GAO releases report on genetically engineered crops.

Press Release Summary:



Released by U.S. Government Accountability Office, report makes minor recommendations on how USDA, FDA, and EPA can better coordinate their efforts regarding regulation of genetically engineered crops. According to BIO's Sharon Bomer Lauritsen, BIO and member companies are confident in rigorous testing and approval regimes of biotech products put in place by government authorities. GAO's recommendation for new monitoring of products is unnecessary and not a prudent use of government resources.



Original Press Release:



BIO is Confident in Regulatory System for Plant Biotech Products



WASHINGTON, D.C. (Friday, December 05, 2008) - The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released on December 5, 2008, its report, "Genetically Engineered Crops: Agencies Are Proposing Changes to Improve Oversight, but Could Take Additional Steps to Enhance Coordination and Monitoring."

The report makes some minor recommendations on how the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can better coordinate their efforts regarding the regulation of genetically engineered crops.

Sharon Bomer Lauritsen, executive vice president, food and agriculture for the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), issued the following statement in response to the report:

"The Biotechnology Industry Organization and its member companies are confident in the rigorous testing and approval regimes of biotech products put in place by U.S. government authorities.

"While we are still reviewing the 109-page report, it appears that the GAO has suggested a small number of recommendations that could improve an already robust system. However, GAO is ignoring the fact that the three agencies working together have approved for commercial use dozens of crops that have been safely developed, tested and commercialized for the marketplace.

"The regulatory system works now as evidenced by dozens of safe, healthful products on the market as developed under stringent government oversight. Therefore, GAO's recommendation for new monitoring of these safe products is unnecessary and not a prudent use of limited government resources. The regulatory process for genetically engineered crops as it exists represents two decades of safe use with absolutely no evidence of any health concerns.

"The U.S. biotechnology industry supports a science-based regulatory process requiring that biotech crops undergo intense regulatory scrutiny from the research lab, to field trials, to commercial plantings by farmers. The existing regulatory regime ensures the products we develop for use as food, feed, fiber or fuel are as safe as they are beneficial."

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