Coming to a store near you

Like it or not Canadian consumers could unknowingly be eating genetically modified Atlantic salmon in the future developed by a US company.

Colt, produced by Aqua Bounty Technologies, is expected to receive Food and Drug Administration “soon” according to FDA officials in the United States. The company has not applied for Canadian approval but even so Canada might be obliged to follow suit because of trade laws. Under current Canadian law, GE foods do not need to be labelled. Briefing notes for Fisheries Minister Gail Shea acknowledge that GE fish being approved in the United States could provoke trade issues and public concerns in Canada. The document, obtained by researcher Ken Rubin under the Access to Information Act, notes that consumers might be concerned about Ottawa's ability to keep out these fish, warning the United States would probably press Canada to speed up its own approval. "Should U.S. companies pursue the export of GE salmon products in the future, this issue could become a trade irritant," notes the document, prepared in the past few months. American approval would not imply approval in Canada, but several observers believe a challenge under current trade laws could produce that result. Lucy Sharratt, co-ordinator with the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network in Ottawa notes it’ll be the Canadian government that’s forced to act. "I think that's what this company is counting on." Tweaked with genetic material from chinook salmon and an eel-like creature called an ocean pout, the Colt reaches market size twice as fast as normal Atlantic salmon, the company says. The Massachusetts-headquartered company has operations in Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. At present there are currently no genetically engineered animals approved for sale as food anywhere in the world. Opponents are predicting a wave of consumer outrage. The level of negative reactions in Europe isn’t matched here said Jeff Hutchings, a professor of biology at Dalhousie University and a member of the Royal Society of Canada's expert panel on biotechnology, but he suspects it will when food animals come up for approval. Ottawa is clearly aware of the sensitivity of the issue. The briefing note prepared for Ms. Shea acknowledged the strong feelings surrounding GE foods, including in markets now enjoyed by Canadian fish. The debate over GE crops was heated, but activists say the introduction of GE animals as food will be even more controversial.