Some media stories (and headlines) have mischaracterized the Pew Initiative’s report on transgenic fish, Future Fish: Issues in Science and Regulation of Transgenic Fish. The paper is an analysis of some of the science and regulatory issues concerning genetically engineered fish and does not contain any policy recommendations. The report includes a discussion of both the benefits and risks of the technology, as well as the advantages and limitations of current regulatory approaches.

The report does raise questions about the limited transparency of FDA’s review process under the animal drug approval laws and FDA’s legal authority to review possible environmental risks of transgenic fish under that law. However, the report makes no conclusion on what policy changes, if any, are needed to address these questions and specifically does not call for a ban of genetically engineered fish, nor does it say these transgenic fish should be kept off of the market. We encourage all interested parties to read the report and press release.]

Michael Rodemeyer
Executive Director
Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology
[The report and press release can be read at http://pewagbiotech.org/ - editor]