Canada approves the use of gene-edited PRRS-resistant pigs
Various agencies in Canada have approved the use of gene-edited PRRS-resistant pigs for sale as food in Canada.
That was communicated late January 2026 by PIC, the genetic company that has been working on pigs that are resistant to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus (PRRSv).
PRRS-resistant pigs are now OK
Altogether, the approval was given by Health Canada (the country’s national health authority) as well as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) after a review. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) conducted its own review of the research and data and concluded that PRRS-resistant pigs may now be manufactured or imported in Canada.
In doing so, Canada is the 5th country to allow the PRRS-resistant pigs, after the United States, Colombia, Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Argentina.
The PIC press release explained how Health Canada and CFIA conducted scientific assessments “that ensured the pigs are safe for consumption and do not differ from other pigs available on the market.”
The news release continued to say, “Their evaluation led them to conclude that aside from the precise deletion of a small part of a gene involved in PRRS infection, the PRRS-resistant pigs are no different than other pigs.
“Health Canada and CFIA further concluded that there are no differences in the nutritional value of the pork from PRRS-resistant pigs compared to other pork available for consumption.”
Major milestone for consumers and farmers
PIC’s chief operating officer, Dr Matt Culbertson, commented, “We have spent years conducting extensive research, validating our findings and working with the Canadian government to gain approval. Today marks a major milestone for consumers, farmers and the entire pork industry who have hoped for relief from PRRS for decades.”
Reception in the Canadian market
The approval by the Canadian authorities wasn’t met with universal acclaim in the Canadian swine industry. Dr Sylvain Charlebois, a well-known food commentator in Canada, repeated his views on social medium X (previously Twitter), stating: “Once again, without public notice or meaningful explanation, Health Canada has cleared a food technology that remains poorly understood by consumers. In recent days, the agency approved the sale of gene-edited pork in Canada – without any labelling requirements.”
He added, “Gene-edited and cloned food products should be clearly labelled. Not because they are unsafe—but because transparency is essential for trust, market integrity, and long-term acceptance.”
Pig Progress addressed those concerns in an earlier overview, in which the view of PIC was also included.
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