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BIO statement on proposed safety policy for early safety assessment of biotechnology-derived crops (Aug. 1, 2002 -- CropChoice news) -- The following is a Biotechnology Industry Organization press release.
WASHINGTON -- Dr. Michael J. Phillips, Executive Director of Food and Agriculture of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), issued the
following statement today in response to the White House announcement of a
proposed policy for early safety assessment of biotechnology-derived crops
intended for food and feed:
"BIO supports the Bush administration's decision, consistent with ongoing
advancements in the technology, to further enhance the federal regulatory
process that has provided oversight for biotechnology-derived products since
1986 designed to ensure food and environmental safety. For consumers, this
enhancement adds yet another layer of assurance to the existing regulatory
review of agricultural crops intended for both food and feed. The Food and
Drug Administration now has an additional step in the process to ensure
protective and thorough review of crops enhanced through biotechnology while
those crops are at the early stages of development in field trials that are
already regulated by the Department of Agriculture.
"BIO members will comply with this added layer of oversight and consider it
to be a mandatory requirement in the development of crops improved through
the use of biotechnology."
BIO represents more than 1,000 biotechnology companies, academic
institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations in all
50 U.S. states and 33 other nations. BIO members are involved in the
research and development of health-care, agricultural, industrial and
environmental biotechnology products.
http://www.bio.org | |
