RSS

FDA moves forward with GM salmon approval

Published: January 4, 2013

To access all the articles in this month's issue of The Organic & Non-GMO Report, SUBSCRIBE NOW.

400,000 public comments, 40 Members of Congress ignored; CFS calls proposed approval of first ever GE animal “premature and misguided”

On a quiet Friday before the Christmas holiday, the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) announced releasing an Environmental Assessment (EA) on the controversial AquaBounty AquaAdvantage transgenic salmon. The FDA action is widely viewed as confirmation that the Obama Administration is prepared to approve shortly the first genetically engineered animal intended for human consumption in the face of widespread opposition.

“It is extremely disappointing that the Obama Administration continues to push approval of this dangerous and unnecessary product,” said Andrew Kimbrell, executive director for Center for Food Safety. “The GM salmon has no socially redeeming value; it’s bad for the consumer, bad for the salmon industry and bad for the environment. FDA’s decision is premature and misguided.”

The FDA’s move may also save AquaBounty from bankruptcy.

The FDA decision ignores calls from more than forty members of the US Congress who have repeatedly urged FDA to conduct more rigorous review of environmental and health safety, and halt any approval process until concerns over risks, transparency and oversight have been fully satisfied. The public filed nearly 400,000 comments demanding FDA reject this application. Additionally, more than 300 environmental, consumer, health and animal welfare organizations, salmon and fishing groups and associations, food companies, chefs and restaurants filed joint statements with FDA opposing approval.