Health Canada has declared that food derived from genetically engineered pigs resistant to a porcine virus is just as safe and nutritious as conventional pork. The regulatory body approved the use of pigs resistant to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses (PRRSV) for consumption and livestock feed.
Genus PLC and PIC Canada, Ltd. sought approval from Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to introduce these gene-edited products to the market. Health Canada emphasized that enhancing resistance to PRRSV in pigs can help prevent illness, reduce antibiotic usage, enhance animal welfare, and promote a stable, affordable, and sustainable food supply.
The PRRSV-resistant pigs developed by Genus PLC are authorized for food consumption in several countries, including the U.S., Brazil, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic. However, the company will wait for regulatory clearance in other key markets before selling these pigs in Canada.
Health Canada stated that no special labeling is necessary for food products from these PRRSV-resistant pigs due to the absence of health and safety concerns. Unlike genetically modified salmon, the gene-edited pigs were created using CRISPR gene-editing technology, ensuring precise genetic modifications without introducing genetic material from other species.
Gwendolyn Blue, a geography professor at the University of Calgary, noted that while PRRSV-resistant pigs offer benefits, there are ethical, moral, cultural, and political considerations to address, including safety assessments and biotechnology regulations. Genus PLC explained that the resistance to PRRSV was achieved by eliminating a specific gene required by the virus to infect pigs.
Health Canada and Genus PLC have committed to transparency and will inform the public when these pigs become available in the Canadian market. The approval of these gene-edited pigs marks a significant milestone as the first commercial sale of a gene-edited animal in Canada.
