U.S. health regulators are currently facing a court case from a coalition of environmental organizations. The environmental groups are seeking to overturn the government's landmark approval of a type of genetically modified salmon to be farmed for human consumption.
According to Reuters, in the lawsuit filed on Wednesday, the Center for Food Safety, Food and Water Watch, Friends of the Earth, and other groups accused the Food and Drug Administration. The organizations alleged that the U.S. FDA failed to consider all of the environmental risks of the fish when the agency approved it in November.
But the U.S. agency cleared that the product, which is being made by the Massachusetts-based AquaBounty Technologies, was created without having the proper authority. The complaint filed claimed that they failed to regulate the genetically engineered animals produced for food.
The FDA's approval of AquaBounty salmon followed a 20-year review. It was the first of such approval for an animal whose DNA has been scientifically altered.
Espresion Economica claimed that AquaBounty is certain that the FDA's approval will stand. In fact, the Chief Executive of AquaBounty, Ron Stotish mentioned in his statement, "The law requires agencies like FDA, who aren't fisheries biologists, to get review and approval from scientists with that expertise."
The company has also stated that its salmon can grow to market size in half the time of the conventional salmon, which can save time and resources. However, the agency's approval process included "an extremely limited environmental assessment." The court proceeding also pointed out that the approval process allegedly did not completely evaluate the potential for AquaBounty salmon to escape from the facilities where they are farmed, among other risks.
Moreover, the 64-page lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California challenges whether the FDA has authority to regulate the genetically modified salmon "as animal drugs" under the 1938 Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. It also argued that the FDA failed to protect the environment.
The court case also asks to forbid the FDA from taking further action on the fish or any other genetically altered animal for human consumption. The ban will take effect until the Congress grants an agency with clear authority regarding such matter.
It also alleged that the agency did not consult wildlife agencies in its review process, as required by the federal law. "I think it's important to note that FDA has gone ahead with this approval over the objections of over 2 million Americans in the comment period," George Kimbrell, senior attorney for Center for Food Safety told HUFFPOST BUSINESS.
Meanwhile, major retailers like Kroger Co and Target Corp have already stated that they do not plan to stock AquaBounty salmon on store shelves and it is not yet available for sale. But activists still worry that the FDA's approval of the GMO salmon will serve as a precedent for other genetically engineered food animals.
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