Canada will officially terminate its longstanding sampling and testing protocol for flaxseed exports to the European Union on May 1, 2026, ending a 17-year trade barrier that has imposed additional costs and administrative burdens on the industry.
The protocol was established in 2009 after trace amounts of unauthorized genetically modified flaxseed called CDC Triffid were detected in a Europe-bound shipment, leading to the immediate cessation of flaxseed exports. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada worked with the Canadian Grain Commission, industry partners and the EU to develop the testing requirements that allowed trade to resume.
Industry celebrates regulatory milestone
The removal of this non-tariff barrier represents recognition of the safety, reliability and quality of Canadian agricultural exports. After years of testing with no detections of CDC Triffid, Canada submitted a formal request for discontinuation in 2024, which the EU recently accepted.
“Thanks to Canada’s producers and processors, we are known globally for the quality, safety and reliability of our food exports,” said Heath MacDonald, minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “Increasing trade with our European partners means more opportunities for Canadian farmers and processors to grow their businesses, create good jobs, and build up our economy.”
The Canadian Grain Commission has maintained comprehensive testing data since June 2013, with no positive laboratory results for CDC Triffid in 13 years. The genetically modified variety was developed in the 1990s and approved for use in Canada and the United States but was never authorized in the EU.
Strong export performance drives decision
Canada exported $229.7 million worth of flaxseed in 2025, with $73.6 million destined for EU markets. The country produced 454,461 metric tons from approximately 251,000 seeded hectares. Overall agricultural exports to the EU totaled $6.2 billion in 2025, making it Canada’s third-largest market.
The protocol’s end offers increased economic potential for Canadian flaxseed farmers and exporters while demonstrating successful Canada-EU collaboration in resolving trade irritants.
