Canada’s Market Access Secretariat has announced that Pakistan’s regulatory agency has approved the registration of several genetically modified (GM) canola seeds.
Import licenses for GM canola seed are expected to be issued to Pakistani importers in the coming weeks, reestablishing market access for Canadian canola seed exports and allowing shipments to resume shortly thereafter.
Canada lost access in the fall of 2022, when Pakistan suddenly began enforcing its 2005 Biosafety Rules with no advance notice.
This latest development reflects the success of coordinated advocacy efforts by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and the Canadian High Commission in Islamabad.
Canadian exporters keen to re-enter the Pakistani market, are encouraged to contact their local CFIA office for guidance. They are also advised to work directly with licensed Pakistani importers to confirm product eligibility and import requirements