Question Period Note: LIVESTOCK FEEDS DERIVED FROM PORCINE REPRODUCTIVE AND RESPIRATORY SYNDROME VIRUS (PRRSV)-RESISTANT PIGS

Q1 - Why is the Government allowing the sale of feeds derived from pigs that are resistant to the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in Canada?
Q2 - When will feeds derived from these animals be available in Canada?
Q3 - What did the feed assessment conducted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency evaluate?
Q4 - How safe are Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus resistant pigs in livestock feeds?
Q5 - What are the labelling requirements of genetically modified livestock feeds?
Q6 – Who is responsible for regulatory changes to food labelling?
Q7 - What is the need for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus resistant pigs?
Q8 - What is the regulatory status of products derived from Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus resistant pigs in other countries?
Q9 – What is the potential market access or economic impacts for Canadian farmers?

R1 - Before a novel feed can be sold in Canada, it is subjected to thorough science-based safety assessments to protect humans, animals and the environment.

On January 23, 2026, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued an approval of feeds derived from pigs resistant to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). The Canadian Food Inspection Agency concluded that the feeds derived from these pigs are as safe and as efficacious as feeds derived from conventional pigs.

On the same day, Health Canada issued their authorization for these pigs as food and Environment and Climate Change Canada announced the outcome of their environmental assessment.
R2 - The developer has previously indicated that they are seeking regulatory approvals in a number of markets prior to commercialization.

They have also indicated that once commercialization occurs, it will take time to scale up production.

Once commercialized, it will remain at the discretion of Canadian pork industry and farmers whether to adopt these breeds into their herds.
R3 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency conducted the pre-market assessment of these pig breeds based on internationally agreed upon guidance published by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and principles established by the Codex Alimentarius.

The assessment evaluated how the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus resistant pigs were developed, how the resistance trait functions, nutritional composition of the pigs, the health status of the PRRSV-resistant pigs and other safety considerations such as toxicity and allergenicity with respect to feeds derived from this gene edited pig.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency published a decision document outlining the data assessed and the conclusions of the pre-market assessment.
R4 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency ’s feed pre-market assessment included reviewing a detailed characterization of the genetic modification made in Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus resistant pigs.

This characterization demonstrated that the intended change was present and that no other changes were made.

Furthermore, the evidence presented demonstrated that feeds derived from these Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus resistant pigs are as safety and efficacious as feeds made from pigs currently available in the Canadian market.
R5 - Feeds derived from these pigs will not require additional labelling to indicate that they contain ingredients derived from genetically modified pigs. The conclusions of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency evaluation determined that the feeds which contain ingredients derived from these animals meet the existing ingredient descriptions found in the Canadian Feed Ingredients Table of the Feeds Regulations, 2024. This means, the ingredients derived from these genetically modified pigs are as safe and nutritious as the same ingredients derived from conventional pigs.
R6 - Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency share the federal responsibility for food labelling under the Food and Drugs Act. Health Canada is responsible for food labelling policies with respect to public health, safety or nutrition.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is responsible for non-health and safety food labelling regulations. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency also establishes and administers regulations under the Safe Food for Canadians Act, it is responsible for enforcing the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations and making any amendments. Any amendments would require public consultations and careful consideration of potential economic and trade impacts.

While genetically engineered foods are considered as safe and nutritious as conventional foods, the Government of Canada recognizes that information about genetic engineering is important. That is why we have been working with the Canadian General Standards Board since November on a public review of the National Standard for labelling and advertising of foods that are, and are not, products of genetic engineering. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency uses this Standard to provide its guidance to companies on the labelling of foods.
R7 - Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome is a major source of mortality in the pig industry worldwide. It is widespread and usually causes reproductive failure, pneumonia, and increased susceptibility to secondary bacterial infection.

There are currently no effective treatments for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome and vaccination has been only partially effective. By making pigs resistant to these viruses, farmers can prevent severe illness and death in their herds, reduce the need for antibiotics, and improve animal welfare. This also helps support a more stable and sustainable food supply.
R8 - Food from pigs that are resistant to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus have been permitted for sale in the United States, Brazil, Colombia and the Dominican Republic.

The developer of these breeds is actively pursuing global regulatory approvals in a number of jurisdictions, including Japan, Mexico, China, and Australia.
R9 - In 2024, Canada's swine and pork industry generated over $6.3 billion in farm cash receipts and $5.5 billion in pork export sales. As of January 1, 2025, there were 13.9M hogs on 6,885 Canadian farms. At this time, no Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus resistant pigs have not been commercialized in other pork producing markets. The potential for future commercialization and adoption within industry could have positive animal health and welfare, and economic benefits for the sector.

With over 70% of Canada’s swine and pork production being exported to 81 countries in 2024, clarity is needed on how the technology is eventually adopted in major pork producing countries and what trade parameters may be required.

What is Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV)?

PRRSV is a virus that leads to significant mortality in pigs and significant economic impacts for the pork industry annually. In 2011, the George Morris Centre estimated that PRRSV costs the Canadian pork industry, $150M annually, due to mortality and production losses.

Feed regulatory framework and oversight

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) administers the manufacture, sale, and import of livestock feeds are regulated under the Feeds Regulations, 2024.

The CFIA evaluates and regulates all feed ingredients, including novel feeds derived from gene-edited or genetically modified organisms. Any feed ingredient that is new, or has been modified, such that it differs significantly from a conventional ingredient, is required to undergo a pre-market evaluation and approval before it can be manufactured in, sold in, or imported into Canada.

The purpose of feed pre-market evaluations is to verify that the feed ingredient is safe in terms of animal health, the environment, and human health (via both user exposure and consumption of foods of animal origin). The evaluation also verifies that the feed ingredient is effective for its intended purpose, is accurately described in the Feeds Regulations, 2024 and is labelled appropriately. Once an application sufficiently demonstrates that all evaluation criteria are met, the CFIA approves the ingredient.

Approved single ingredient feeds are listed and described in the Canadian Feed Ingredients Table, which is incorporated by reference in the Feeds Regulations, 2024.
To provide transparency regarding the approval of novel feeds from genetically modified plants or animals, the CFIA publishes decision documents on its website. Decision documents summarize the pre-market evaluations and regulatory decisions.

Approved feeds from genetically modified animals

At present, the only approved feed ingredients from genetically modified animals are from a genetically modified salmon, which was approved in 2016.

The CFIA does not disclose the existence or status of specific applications submitted for pre-market evaluation unless this information has been voluntarily provided by the applicant and posted as a notice of submission on the CFIA website.

International Approvals of PRRSV-resistant pigs

On April 29, 2025, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved the intentional genomic alteration in pigs, having considered food safety for humans or animals consuming these pigs and environmental safety. Colombia and Brazil issued, in October 2023 and April 2024 respectively, the regulatory determination that the PRRSV-resistant pigs will be treated the same as conventionally bred pigs.

• The Government of Canada recognizes that porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome is a serious viral animal health disease with potential impacts on Canada’s pork industry.
• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency evaluates and regulates the manufacture, sale and import of all livestock feed ingredients, including those from biotechnology-derived products.
• Before a novel feed can be manufactured in, sold in or imported into Canada, it must be assessed for safety in terms of animal health, human health (via consumption of animal products and worker/by-stander exposure), and the environment.
• As of January 23, 2026, the Government of Canada approved pigs resistant to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses for use in food and feed.