Life on Sleepy Creek in Words and Images: JUST IN FROM FRIENDS OF THE EARTH ABOUT GM MOSQUITOES BEING TESTED IN THE FLORIDA KEYS, THEN ELSEWHERE

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

JUST IN FROM FRIENDS OF THE EARTH ABOUT GM MOSQUITOES BEING TESTED IN THE FLORIDA KEYS, THEN ELSEWHERE - A RISKY EXPERIMENT AT BEST...

While biotechnology companies keep creating new types of genetically engineered animals to serve on our dinner plates or bugs to release into our environment, our federal regulatory system is stuck in the mud.

The latest alarming example centers on a private, British company called Oxitec. Oxitec wants to use the Florida Keys as its first testing ground for releasing genetically engineered mosquitoes in the U.S. wild.
Because the U.S. has no laws specifically designed to regulate the field release of genetically engineered insects or other animals, Oxitec has applied to the Food and Drug Administration for approval to release its mosquitoes as a “new animal drug.”¹

Tell the FDA: Reject Oxitec’s risky experiment and halt approval of all genetically engineered insects and animals until we have a regulatory system equipped to deal with their novel risks.

While Oxitec’s mosquito experiment is in the name of disease control, independent scientists have raised serious concerns about the impacts it could have on the local health and ecosystem -- and about whether it will even work.
It's nothing short of wacky that the FDA relies on antiquated regulations meant for livestock vaccines and antibiotics to review the novel risks of engineered bugs that, once unleashed into the environment, can breed, bite humans or fly to another part of town. The FDA's own expertise lies in veterinary medicine -- not insect ecology, environmental risk and other areas crucial to fully assessing the potential impacts of genetically engineered mosquitoes and other animals.

Unwilling to be Oxitec's guinea pigs, grassroots citizens in Florida and the Key West city commission have called for a halt to the release until a rigorous, independent scientific review is completed and the genetically engineered mosquitoes are proven safe.
Yet, under "new animal drug" rules, Oxitec's plan could be approved at any time -- with little to no warning or input from local communities and independent scientific experts.
Take action in solidarity with residents in the Florida Keys and tell the FDA to reject Oxitec’s plan. Our regulatory system must be brought into the 21st-century before any genetically engineered animals end up in our environment.

We've already seen how flawed the “new animal drug” review process is throughout our multi-year fight to prevent FDA approval of unlabeled, genetically engineered salmon for U.S. consumption.² The FDA negotiates with the company behind closed doors, isn’t required to get public input, doesn’t have the necessary expertise, and collaborates poorly with agencies that do.

The FDA is only beginning to consider Oxitec’s plan to release genetically engineered mosquitoes, and its course of action will set a precedent for the review of other potentially harmful genetically engineered insects in the biotech industry’s pipeline.

Whether it’s genetically engineered salmon or mosquitoes, the public deserves a regulatory system that’s equipped to address the unique risks genetically engineered animals pose to our health and ecosystems.

Tell the FDA: Reject the release of Oxitec's mosquitoes and any genetically engineered animals in the U.S. until we have laws on the books to ensure public health and safety are protected.

Let's create a buzz the FDA can't ignore!
Eric Hoffman
Food and technology campaigner, Friends of the Earth
1. See the blog post, "GE mosquito release 'remains on indefinite hold' -- but for how long?"
2. See the blog post, "GE mosquitoes and salmon show the need for better regulation."