AquaBounty Technologies, which hopes to become the first company to introduce a genetically engineered animal to the human food supply, says a legal challenge to Environment Canada’s decision to approve its technology is just the latest attempt by its opponents to delay the commercialization process.
The company’s AquAdvantage salmon contains a growth hormone gene that allows the salmon to mature twice as fast as conventional salmon. In November 2013, Environment Canada concluded that the GE salmon was not harmful to human health or the environment. The application for a judicial review, filed by two environmental groups, alleges that the Canadian government failed to conduct a full risk assessment before giving AquaBounty the thumbs up.
“This has been the most transparent and rigorous process ever conducted,” said AquaBounty CEO Ron Stotish. “Multiple regulatory agencies in two countries have concluded multiple times that our salmon is environmentally safe. They are backed up by the consensus of the credible scientific community.”
“This law suit is nothing more than an attempt to continue to delay a process that has already taken 20 years,” he added.
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Read the full, original article: AquaBounty: Lawsuit just another attempt to delay commercialization of GE salmon
Additional Resources:
- GM salmon could double world production, if ‘Frankenfish’ fears don’t halt progress, Genetic Literacy Project
- Something fishy: GM salmon in purgatory as EPA drags feet on approval, More Brain Points
- Critics’ concerns over GM salmon unfounded, ‘don’t merit comment’, Yahoo News
