OTTAWA, ON, Jan. 23, 2026 – Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses (PRRSV) rank among the most destructive viral groups impacting commercial pig operations, causing substantial economic damage to Canadian farmers and increased retail costs for shoppers.

Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) today announced they have finished separate, thorough safety evaluations of PRRSV-resistant pigs after receiving applications from Genus PLC and PIC Canada, Ltd. Health Canada determined that products derived from these animals are equally safe and nutritious for human consumption as conventional pork sold in Canada. The CFIA verified that these pigs are also suitable and harmless for incorporation into animal feed.

Enhancing PRRSV resistance in swine will enable producers to prevent disease outbreaks in their herds, decrease reliance on antibiotics, promote better animal well-being, and contribute to a more reliable, cost-effective, and environmentally sound food system.

Genus PLC’s PRRSV-resistant swine already have approval for human consumption in the United States, Brazil, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic. Despite Canada’s authorization for marketing these pigs, Genus PLC has stated it will not commercialize them until additional regulatory clearances are obtained in other major markets. Both the company and Health Canada pledge maximum transparency and will notify the public when this innovation becomes available in Canada.

Although genetically modified foods are deemed as safe and wholesome as traditional products, the Canadian government acknowledges the public’s need for information about genetic engineering. For this reason, since November, officials have collaborated with the Canadian General Standards Board on an open consultation regarding the National Standard for identifying and promoting foods that are or are not derived from genetic engineering. The CFIA relies on this Standard to advise companies on food labelling practices.

Quick facts:

• The pork sector generated more than $6.3 billion in farm cash receipts in 2024, with Canada producing 2.34 million tonnes of pork and shipping 1.45 million tonnes abroad.
• On January 1, 2025, Canadian farms housed 13.9 million pigs across 6,885 operations.
• PRRSV infections can trigger serious symptoms in swine, including respiratory distress, elevated temperature, loss of appetite, and may result in fetal mortality and fatalities.
• No proven cures exist at present, and vaccines have demonstrated only limited success.
• Canadian regulations mandate food labelling when clear health hazards exist or when nutritional profiles change substantially. For instance, allergens must be declared to warn consumers of potential dangers.
• Since Health Canada identified no health or safety issues, these PRRSV-resistant pigs do not require special labelling.
• Beyond the aforementioned evaluations, the New Substances program—operated jointly by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada—concluded in December 2025 that indirect exposure to these pigs poses no greater environmental or human health risks than conventional swine.

Additional Resources:

SOURCE Health Canada (HC)