SAINT-BERNARD, QUEBEC — Organic Canadian pork producer duBreton pushed for mandatory labeling of gene-edited pork across North America regardless of origin.

The request came after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved PRRS (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome)-resistant pigs for entry into the United States beginning in 2026. The agency approved the commercial distribution of pigs which can be modified with Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) technology.

Supporters of the technology have stated it would reduce animal suffering and limit antibiotic use, but duBreton is making the claim that these assertions are misleading and not supported.

“We’ve achieved the same outcomes for decades — without genetic modification,” said Vincent Breton, president of duBreton. “Through natural husbandry, selective breeding, and strict biosecurity protocols, duBreton has raised healthy pigs without antibiotics, while upholding the integrity of organic farming.”

The organic pork company explained its opposition to gene editing in livestock production for ethical reasons and long-term assessment.

The company also noted the practice does not comply with the Global Animal Partnership (GAP), Certified Humane Raised & Handled, and USDA Organic standards. It argued the FDA move leaves unresolved questions about animal welfare and consumer safety.

The proposal this week by duBreton called on the FDA, USDA, CFIA and Health Canada to enforce mandatory labeling on gene-edited pork products, domestic and imported. The company also wants a distinct regulatory framework which separates gene-edited pork from conventional and organic meat products.

“Failing to label gene-edited pork is a direct threat to consumer trust and the viability of ethical, sustainable farming,” Breton added. “Transparent labeling is essential to consumer choice. Without it, responsible producers are placed at a disadvantage for refusing to compromise their values.”

duBreton operates four processing facilities for organic pork, with one located in the United States.  

Genus was the developer of the PRRS-resistant pigs, which received approval back in April. At the time, the company emphasized the importance of obtaining approval for the pigs from key US export markets, including Mexico, Canada and Japan.

“FDA approval is a fantastic achievement for Genus PIC and represents a major step towards US commercialization,” said Jorgen Kokke, chief executive officer for Genus.  “We will now continue to pursue regulatory approvals in other international jurisdictions with a focus on key US export markets.”