Codex defines low-erucic-acid rapeseed oil, including canola oil, as containing no more than 2% erucic acid of total fatty acids. Canadian canola-quality standards likewise specify less than 2% erucic acid in the oil.
High-erucic rapeseed oil raised toxicological concerns historically, especially from animal studies, and that history drove breeding and regulatory standards for low-erucic food varieties.
“Canola” describes a quality class, not a genetic-engineering method; canola-quality varieties can also be developed through conventional breeding.