AGRI Committee Report

        Since being introduced in the mid-1990s, genetically modified (GM) foods have been a topic of great debate. In recent years, GM crops have assumed an increasingly important role in Canadian agriculture, particularly in the grain and oilseed sector, and have brought with them the complex issue of labelling.

        Labelling, voluntary or mandatory, has far-reaching implications for producers and consumers alike. Accordingly, the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food has met with stakeholders to solicit views on the labelling of GM foods. Given that labelling has the potential to affect profoundly all aspects of food production, from costs to trade, it has proven to be a rather contentious issue.