Should Gene-Edited Pigs Resistant to a Major Virus Be Approved for Canadian Farms?

Official title: Share your thoughts: Participate in the risk assessment process for four lines of Gene Edited Pigs

Closed Regulations & Permits Agriculture & Food Environment & Climate Health & Safety
A company wants to bring gene-edited pigs to Canada that can't catch PRRS, a devastating virus that kills piglets and costs farmers millions. The pigs had a tiny piece of their DNA removed—no foreign genes added—so the virus can't latch on. The government is assessing whether these pigs are safe for the environment and human health before deciding if they can be used in Canadian pork production.

Why This Matters

Eat pork? This could affect what ends up on your plate. PRRS costs the global pork industry billions annually and there's no effective treatment. If approved, these disease-resistant pigs could mean healthier herds, fewer antibiotics, and potentially more stable pork prices. But some Canadians have concerns about gene-edited animals entering the food supply.

What Could Change

If approved, gene-edited pigs could be imported and bred at Canadian production facilities. The pigs would be kept in confinement with strict biosecurity measures. This would be one of the first gene-edited livestock approvals in Canada, potentially setting precedent for future applications.

Key Issues

  • Are these gene-edited pigs safe for the environment?
  • Are there any human health risks from pork products derived from these pigs?
  • What are the potential ecological effects if these pigs were released outside production facilities?

How to Participate

  1. Review the consultation details on this page to understand what's being proposed for the four lines of gene-edited pigs.
  2. Send your comments, including any scientific information or test data, to substances@ec.gc.ca. Include your name, affiliation, and use the subject line: Public Participation: 22051, 22196-22198 – Gene Edited Pigs.

Key Documents