USDA Won’T Release Report On Genetically Engineered Antibody

The agency “has determined that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared for this field release.” USDA Won’t Release Report On Genetically-Engineered AntibodyBy Cliff Montgomery – Feb. 18th, 2008The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) quietly issued an important notice in the February 15th edition of the Federal Register: It encourages a “proposed field release” of a genetically engineered tobacco hybrid–one designed to produce an anti-microbial antibody which will fight “tooth decay in humans.”The USDA claims its environmental assessment for the proposed field release helped lead officials to the conclusion that use of the genetically engineered hybrid “will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment.”Since this health impact is not considered properly “significant” by the Bush agency, the USDA “has determined that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared for this field release.””The purpose of this [tobacco hybrid] field release is to generate plant biomass from which the antibody will be extracted after harvest,” stated the Federal Register notice.Bush hopes to help the California-based corporation Planet Biotechnology, Inc. eventually introduce this antibody derived from a genetically engineered plant (trade name CaroRx) into the U.S. and European dental hygiene markets.”CaroRx is intended for regular topical preventative administration by both dental hygienists and patients following a thorough cleaning and intervention for any existing decay,” states the corporation’s website.But we would do well to remember what America experienced some decades ago with the use of the pesticide DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), which was sprayed onto U.S. produce after 1945 to combat mosquito-borne malaria. It then was a new ‘wonder chemical’ thought to be harmless to humans. It too was ingested or used by Americans.”DDT was banned from use in the United States in 1972, and remains banned barring public health emergency (e.g., outbreak of malaria),” states a joint report from Cornell University, Michigan State University, Oregon State University, and University of California at Davis.The pesticide’s “acute toxicity” was the reason for the eventual ban.”The chemical DDT is so dangerous that it should be banned everywhere,” BBC News said in a January 1999 synopsis of a DDT study then created by the renowned World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).Remember this as you read the Federal Register quotes below:DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2007–0029]Planet Biotechnology, Inc.; Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for a Field Release To Produce Antibodies in Genetically Engineered Nicotiana HybridsAGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [APHIS], USDA.ACTION: Notice.SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have prepared an environmental assessment for a proposed field release involving a Nicotiana (tobacco) hybrid line that has been genetically engineered to produce an antimicrobial antibody that binds to a bacterium (Streptococcus mutans) associated with tooth decay in humans.The purpose of this field release is to generate plant biomass from which the antibody will be extracted after harvest. The environmental  assessment provides a basis for our conclusion that this field release will not present a risk of introducing or disseminating a plant pest, and will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment.Based on its finding of no significant impact, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared for this field release.EFFECTIVE DATE: February 15, 2008.ADDRESSES: […] The EA, FONSI and decision notice, and responses to comments are available on the Internet at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/aphisdocs/05_35403r_ea.pdf.SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 7 CFR part 340, ‘‘Introduction of Organisms and Products Altered or Produced Through Genetic Engineering Which Are Plant Pests or Which There Is Reason to Believe Are Plant Pests,’’ regulate, among other things, the introduction (importation, interstate movement, or release into the environment) of organisms and products altered or produced through genetic engineering that are plant pests or that there is reason to believe are plant pests.Such genetically engineered organisms and products are considered ‘‘regulated articles.’’A permit must be obtained or a notification acknowledged before a regulated article may be introduced. The regulations set forth the permit application requirements and the notification procedures for the importation, interstate movement, or release in the environment of a regulated article. […]On June 13, 2007, APHIS published a notice in the Federal Register…announcing the availability of an environmental assessment (EA) for the proposed release of a trans-genic Nicotiana hybrid line.During the 30-day comment period, APHIS received six comments. All six comments were opposed to APHIS’ issuance of this permit and genetically engineered crops in general, but only one raised specific issues regarding the EA.APHIS has provided responses to these comments as an attachment to the finding of no significant impact (FONSI).Like what you’re reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of thee-newsletter for only $15? 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