Senator Introduces Federal Bills to Address Genetically Engineered Salmon

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 18, 2010

Senator Introduces Common-sense Federal Bills to Address Controversial Genetically Engineered Salmon

Statement by Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director, Food & Water Watch

“Today Senator Begich (D-AK) introduced two vital bills to head off the FDA’s unwise process for approving the first genetically engineered (GE) food animal, AquaBounty salmon. The first bill, a companion to Representative Don Young’s (R-AK) HR 6265, would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prevent the approval of the controversial fish. The second bipartisan bill, a companion to Rep. Young’s H.R. 6264, would amend that same act to require, at minimum, labeling of this science experiment that the biotech industry wants to release into our food system.”

“We applaud Senator Begich’s commitment to keeping genetically engineered salmon off the market as well as his demand for full disclosure if the FDA does approve the product despite widespread consumer opposition."

"The FDA’s approval process for AquaBounty salmon has been disingenuous at best. The product has not been tested sufficiently for its potentially disastrous environmental and human health impacts.”

“It is telling that these bills were introduced shortly after at least 30 House members and 13 senators wrote the Obama administration either expressing serious concerns about the manner in which FDA conducted its review or calling for the outright prohibition of the approval of AquaBounty salmon."

"The efforts on behalf of Congress demonstrate that there is bipartisan concern over the careless approval of the first genetically engineered food animal. Democrats and Republicans alike are reminding the FDA that the public is not happy that the agency is playing games with their health.”

“Furthermore, just this week, Food & Water Watch released startling internal emails and documents revealing that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) has had many of the same environmental concerns as these legislators."

"Unfortunately, as the FDA forges ahead with its approval process, it has become clear that the agency has ignored not only the other federal agencies (like FWS) that it is required by law to consult with, but widespread congressional opposition as well.”

“We urge members of Congress and the public to support these critical bills before the FDA sets a dangerous precedent, unleashing the first genetically engineered food animal on an unsuspecting public.”

For more information, contact Lauren Wright; Lwright [at] fwwatch.org; 202 683-4929

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Food & Water Watch works to ensure the food, water and fish we consume is safe, accessible and sustainable. So we can all enjoy and trust in what we eat and drink, we help people take charge of where their food comes from, keep clean, affordable, public tap water flowing freely to our homes, protect the environmental quality of oceans, force government to do its job protecting citizens, and educate about the importance of keeping shared resources under public control.