Activity 5

ACTIVITY 5. ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND POLICY RESEARCH TO ENABLE THE TRANSITION TOWARDS A NEW PARADIGM IN DIAGNOSTIC KITS

Activity Leader: Yann Joly, Research Director, McGill University, Centre of Genomics and Policy, yann.joly@mcgill.ca

Co-leader: Paul Thomassin, Director, McGill University, Center for the Convergence of Health and Economics, paul.thomassin@mcgill.ca

Questions can be sent to the Activity Coordinator: Ida Ngueng Feze, Lawyer & Academic Associate, McGill University, Centre of Genomics and Policy:  ida.nguengfeze@mcgill.ca

Main Goal

Identify and address the ethical, legal, social and economic concerns that may arise from a shift to a risk-based food safety approach to regulate Salmonella, based on the pathogenicity of individual bacterial isolates.

Rationale

Linking research to action between knowledge generators and end users, especially in a context involving the social embedding of novel genomic technology development and application, requires a full understanding of the legal, ethical, regulatory and socio-economic factors that can facilitate or hinder the implementation of these innovations. Our approach aims to address the challenges around the uptake of novel diagnostic tests for Salmonella and related foodborne diseases (such as salmonellosis) using a risk-based approach to improve regulatory efficiency, estimate the economic impacts and produce maximum benefits with minimal risk.

Sub-objectives

The following sub-objectives will be instrumental to reach the main goal:

Obj. 5.1 Assessing the requirements for a risk-based approach to food safety in Canada

5.1.1 Identify the evidentiary requirements to support the change to a risk-based approach to food safety under Canadian and international law and policies

5.1.1.a Identify legal requirements for the approval and uptake of the new test

5.1.1.b Assess international trade impacts

5.1.2 Evaluate the economic impacts of using a novel genomic test for Salmonella as compared to existing technology

5.1.2.a Identify and estimate the cost and benefits of the new technology

5.1.2.b Evaluate the direct and indirect impacts of the new test on the Canadian economy

Obj. 5.2 Integrating stakeholders’ attitudes and concerns

5.2.1.   Identify current policy drivers and potential hurdles to the uptake and broad use of the new test

5.2.2 Validate and disseminate GE³LS research results

Milestones

1)    Conduct a national and comparative legal, regulatory and policy analysis of the current instruments regulating Salmonella.

2)    Estimate the economic implications of the new technology (benefits, costs, direct and indirect impacts, and trade implications).

3)    Identify stakeholders’ attitudes on the new food safety approach to reduce pathogenic Salmonella (end users, scientists and policy makers).

4)    Hold a multi-stakeholder workshop.