A Food & Water Watch media release states that, “After submitting a Freedom of Information Act request, the consumer advocacy group Food & Water Watch received numerous recent internal documents and emails from the U.S. Department of Interior’s Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) exposing startling concerns with AquaBounty salmon – a controversial genetically engineered (GE) fish the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may soon approve as the first GE food animal for human consumption.”
“The documents reveal that, as late as last month, the FDA had not adequately fulfilled a requirement under the Endangered Species Act to consult with both FWS and another federal agency, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), to determine whether approval of AquaBounty’s salmon might impact wild, endangered Atlantic salmon.”
“At least 30 House members and 13 senators have expressed concern with the FDA’s review process, with many calling for the outright prohibition of GE salmon. Despite the outcry, the FDA is closing a public comment period on November 22 and could approve the product as soon as November 23.”
THE COUNCIL OF CANADIANS
Aqua Bounty has a facility in Bay Fortune, Prince Edward Island where the genetically modified salmon eggs are produced.
Leo Broderick of PEI and vice-chair of the Council of Canadians travelled to Maryland this past September to attend FDA hearings where dozens of US groups testified about the problems with the GE salmon and the gaps in the science. Broderick appeared in numerous media reports on this issue including in the Toronto Star, the Vancouver Sun, the Winnipeg Free Press, the Charlottetown Guardian, and the CBC. More on that at http://canadians.org/campaignblog/?p=4736.
The Food & Water Watch media release is at http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/press/press-releases/troubling-emails-reveal-federal-scientists-fear-fda-approval-of-genetically-engineered-salmon/.
