The Pakistan government’s move to allow canola imports that may contain genetically modified (GM) material has been welcomed by grain and oilseed associations in Australia and Canada – among the leading global producers and exporters of the oilseed, World Grain wrote.
The Pakistan government’s move to allow canola imports that may contain genetically modified (GM) material has been welcomed by grain and oilseed associations in Australia and Canada – among the leading global producers and exporters of the oilseed, World Grain wrote.
The trade approval followed extensive advocacy and technical engagement led by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and the government of Pakistan, the 10 November report said.
Pakistan has purchased as much as 1.35M tonnes/year of Canadian canola, with annual imports averaging 810,000 tonnes between 2015-2020, according to a 10 November Moose Jaw Today report.
However, in late 2022, Pakistan’s Department of Plant Protection began requiring import licences for imports of GM crops.
As the country had no system for receiving and processing import licences at that time, the National Biosafety Committee started developing regulations, the report said.
In late 2023, Pakistan’s federal cabinet approved amendments to its biosafety rules to support the import of GM crops for food, feed and processing.
The government put out a notification of implementation in January 2024 and the registration process was initiated shortly after that.
With Canada currently excluded from the Chinese market – which bought 5.86M tonnes of canola in 2024 – Pakistan’s move was welcomed by trade associations in the country.
At the time of the report, Canola Council of Canada (CCC) president Chris Davison said it was too early to tell how former Chinese demand would be absorbed by Pakistan.
“We’re going to watch to see if there’s an opportunity to re-establish trade at previous levels,” he said.
The CCC was also looking at Mexico, the European Union (EU) and Japan as potential growth export markets, he added.
In previous years, Japan had purchased more than 2M tonnes/year of Canadian canola, but in recent years had imported half that volume, the report said.
Pakistan’s move was also welcomed by Grain Trade Australia (GTA) and the Australian Oilseeds Federation (AOF).
In a joint GTA/AOF press release, GTA CEO Pat O’Shannassy said the decision strengthened opportunities for Australian exporters and growers.
“The Pakistan market has tracked at just over half a million tonnes annually over the past five years,” O’Shannassy said.
“This progress presents a valuable opportunity for Australian canola in both volume and value. Importantly, as more Australian growers adopt genetically modified canola in their rotations, this new market access effectively opens Pakistan to a larger pool of Australian supply.”
In the 6 November joint statement, the two organisations said they supported the scientific and rules-based trade of grain into international markets and continued to work collaboratively with other Australian industry associations to promote these principles globally.
Australia’s canola production is forecast to increase by 1% year-on-year to 6.4M tonnes in 2025/26, which would be 34% above the 10-year average and the third largest on record, according to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES).
AOF chair Rosemary Richards said Pakistan’s decision was an important step in supporting ongoing market confidence in Australian canola.
“Science-based, rules-driven market access is critical to maintaining strong and reliable trade pathways for Australian canola,” she said. “This outcome supports growers and exporters by ensuring our production systems, including the adoption of GM canola, continue to be recognised and accepted in key international markets.”
While final import arrangements were still being clarified, the GTA said it was possible that Pakistani importers might request a licence or permit to import GM canola.
