Tell FDA: Do Not Approve Genetically Engineered Salmon!
From The Institute For Responsible Technology.
California Senator, Dianne Feinstein cosponsored S. 229 and S. 230, introduced by Senator Mark Begich [D-AK] on January 31, 2011. These bills would have required the labeling of genetically modified salmon and banned the approval of genetically modified salmon by the FDA, respectively. Both these bills have been referred to Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Unfortunately, the 112th Congress did not take action on either of these bills before adjourning. In order for these bills to be considered again, they would have to be reintroduced in the 113th Congress.
Senator Feinstein continues:
“I am concerned that the FDA is using a regulatory framework for animal drugs to assess the safety and environmental consequences of this product. This drug approval process was not designed to regulate genetically modified foods, and I am concerned that the process does not allow for the release of important health and safety information, nor does it provided adequate opportunities for public comment.”
Deadline: 11:59 PM, February 25th, 2013
On December 21, 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released an Environmental Assessment (EA) with a “Finding of No Significant Impact” 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 (GE) animal intended for human consumption in the face of widespread opposition.
FDA says escape is unlikely and that the fish pose “no impact” the environment. But each year millions of farmed salmon escape, outcompeting wild populations for resources and straining ecosystems. Any approval of GE salmon would represent a serious threat to the survival of native salmon populations, many of which have already suffered severe declines related to salmon farms and other man-made impacts. Additionally, the human health impacts of eating GE fish, which would be the first-ever GE food animal, are entirely unknown.
Sign the petition to tell the Food and Drug Administration not to approve GE salmon AND, if the Obama Administration insists on approving these genetically engineered fish, it should require the fish to be labeled!....................
http://action.responsibletechnology.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=12466