Health Canada-FSANZ Shared Assessment Process: Information for Applicants

Health Canada and Food Standards Australia New Zealand have established a shared pre-market assessment process for genetically modified (GM) foods to enhance safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in food authorization.

Key Highlights:

1. Objective:
   1. Streamline the pre-market assessment process for GM foods while maintaining rigorous safety standards.
   2. Improve collaboration between agencies without compromising independent decision-making.
2. Scope:
   1. Covers application submission requirements for GM food approval.
   2. Defines the roles of primary and secondary assessors in the evaluation process.
3. Independence of Decisions:
   1. Regulatory decisions remain fully independent for both Health Canada and Food Standards Australia New Zealand, ensuring adherence to their respective regulatory frameworks.

This shared approach aims to reduce duplication of effort while ensuring that GM foods meet the highest safety standards in both regions.

Region: Canada
Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/genetically-modified-foods-other-novel-foods/fsanz-shared-assessment-process-information-applicants.html