[BCFSN] GM fish approved by Health Canada - it won't be labelled, it puts wild salmon at risk.

[Abra Brynne]

Hello all and apologies for cross-posting.
Please see below for a release from fellow Tides project, CBAN, on the
recent approval of genetically modified salmon in Canada, to enter our eco-
and food- systems. Given how critical salmon is to our food systems, to
Indigenous cultures, and to the eco-systems of our province, I know this is
relevant to our work.

Please see below.
in good food,
Abra

Abra Brynne
Director, Engagement & Policy
BC Food Systems Network
abra at bcfsn.org
Ph: 250.352.5342 // mobile: 250.777.2480
Skype: abra.brynne
www.bcfsn.org

Please support our work <http://bcfsn.org/donate/>.


Begin forwarded message:

*From:* Lucy Sharratt - CBAN Coordinator <coordinator at cban.ca>
*Date:* May 20, 2016 at 4:38:37 AM PDT
*To:* cban-e-news at cban.ca
*Subject:* *[cban e-News] GM fish approved by Health Canada - it won't be
labelled, it puts wild salmon at risk.*

Health Canada has approved the first-ever genetically modified (GM, or
genetically engineered) food animal, a GM Atlantic salmon, for human
consumption. Environment Canada has already approved the production of the
GM fish but this decision is currently before the courts in Canada. The GM
fish will not be labelled on grocery store shelves. Below is yesterday’s
press release.

You can call or write your Member of Parliament - search their contact
using your postal code at www.parl.gc.ca
You can contact your grocery store head office and ask them to keep the GM
fish off the shelves - CBAN has posted many of the contacts here
http://www.cban.ca/content/view/full/1903

For more information and action please visit www.cban.ca/fish


PRESS RELEASE - For Immediate Release

Health Canada Approves First GM Fish Amidst Environmental and Transparency
Concerns

May 19, 2016. Ottawa. The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN),
Ecology Action Centre, Living Oceans Society and the Quebec network
Vigilance OGM are expressing concerns over Health Canada’s approval of the
world’s first genetically modified (GM) food animal, a GM Atlantic salmon,
for human consumption.

“Canadians could now be faced with the world’s first GM food animal,
approved with no public consultation and no labelling,” said Lucy Sharratt
of CBAN.

Health Canada announced approval of the GM fish for human consumption in a
conference call today.(1) The Atlantic salmon has been genetically modified
to using genes from Chinook salmon and ocean pout, to grow faster. The
Canadian decision follows a US government safety approval in November 2015,
though there is now a US import ban on the GM fish until some form of
labelling standard is established.

“At the very least, the government should immediately establish mandatory
labelling of all GM foods so consumers can choose,” said Thibault Rehn of
Vigilance OGM.

The latest consumer poll shows 88% of Canadians want mandatory labelling of
all GM foods and 45% said they would definitely not eat the GM salmon.(2)

In November 2013, the Minister of Environment approved commercial
production of the GM fish eggs and fish, triggering a court case brought
forward by environmental groups Ecology Action Centre and Living Oceans
Society. The case is ongoing.(3)

“GM salmon production threatens the future of wild Atlantic salmon,” said
Calinda Brown of the Ecology Action Centre, “Retailers can protect
consumers and the environment by making sure this GM fish never makes it to
grocery store shelves.”

Major retailers in the US have already pledged not to sell the GM salmon.(4)

The US company AquaBounty (now majority owned by biotechnology company
Intrexon) says it initially plans to produce GM salmon eggs at its facility
in Prince Edward Island in Canada, and ship the eggs to Panama for grow out
and processing. However, the company has approval to raise the GM salmon in
Canada.

- 30 -

For more information:
Lucy Sharratt, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, a project of Tides
Canada, 613 809 1103
Thibault Rehn, Vigilance OGM, 514 582 1674
Calinda Brown, Ecology Action Centre, 613 371 5597
Mark Butler, Ecology Action Centre, 902 266 5401
Karen Wristen, Living Oceans Society, 604 788 5634
Sharon Labchuk, Islanders Say No to Frankenfish, 902 626 7327

Notes:
(1)  With less than 24 hours notice, Health Canada and the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency invited stakeholders to join a conference call today May
19 2016 for an “Update on a Regulatory Decision Related to Food.” This is
the first time that federal regulatory agencies have announced a GM food
approval outside of just notifying the company that requested approval and
later posting the decision to government websites. For information on
Canadian regulation see CBAN’s report www.gmoinquiry.ca/regulation
(2)  Ipsos Reid, September 2015, Commissioned by the Canadian Biotechnology
Action Network www.cban.ca/2015poll
(3)  www.ecologyaction.ca/gmsalmon
(4)  www.foe.org/gefreeseafood




Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator
Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN)
Collaborative Campaigning for Food Sovereignty and Environmental Justice
Suite 206, 180 Metcalfe Street
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K2P 1P5
Phone: 613 241 2267 ext. 25
Fax: 613 241 2506
coordinator at cban.ca
www.cban.ca
https://www.facebook.com/cban.canadian.biotechnology.action.network
@biotechaction

Check out the six reports in the GMO Inquiry! www.gmoinquiry.ca

Donate today www.cban.ca/donate







_______________________________________________
CBAN e-News mailing list

To unsubscribe, email cban-e-news-unsubscribe at cban.ca

http://www.cban.ca ~ Collaborative Campaigning for Food Sovereignty and
Environmental Justice
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://bcfsn.org/pipermail/food_bcfsn.org/attachments/20160520/21ce9ef7/attachment.html>