Canada weighs approval of genetically engineered pigs
Policy pause keeps cloned swine under novel food rules
18 December 2025
1 minute read
By: According to a recent USDA-FAS report, Canada is reviewing the potential commercial use of genetically engineered pigs, while pausing regulatory changes related to cloned swine.
USDA-FAS reports that Environment and Climate Change Canada consulted with the public between June 20 and July 20, 2025, on four lines of genetically engineered pigs submitted under the New Substances program. The proposal would allow the pigs to be used in commercial breeding operations and pork production. A regulatory decision had not yet been released at the time of writing, and Health Canada had not published food safety assessments related to the pigs.
Separately, Health Canada has indefinitely paused a proposed policy update that would have removed cattle and swine clones produced through somatic cell nuclear transfer, and their offspring, from Canada’s novel food regulations. The policy change was first proposed in spring 2024 but was halted in fall 2025 following consumer and industry feedback.
Under the current framework, food products derived from cloned swine remain classified as novel foods and continue to require pre-market approval.
