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GeneWatch UK, 11 February 2014

http://www.genewatch.org/article.shtml?als[cid]=566987&als[itemid]=574224

Disponible en español en:

http://www.genewatch.org/article.shtml?als[cid]=566987&als[itemid]=574225

Oxitec’s notification for the export of GM mosquito eggs to Panama contains no risk assessment for its planned experiments, despite this being a requirement under EU law. GeneWatch UK warned that the Panamanian authorities or the Gorgas Institute could be liable if anything goes wrong with the experiments, as they have failed to require the company to assess the risks.

GeneWatch UK obtained the transboundary notification document from a Freedom of Information request to the UK Government. EU law requires Oxitec to provide a risk assessment which meets EU standards to Panama prior to exporting GM mosquito eggs, and for Panama to provide prior written consent to import. The notification fails to include the required risk assessment and instead claims that the regulators in Panama have produced their own, with input from the Gorgas Institute, and that Oxitec has not seen this risk assessment.

“Oxitec’s risk assessment is an essential part of the decision because it gives the company’s view on everything that could go wrong with the experiments ” said Dr Helen Wallace, Director of GeneWatch UK, “It is negligent of Oxitec to fail to do this risk assessment, which should meet European standards. It may be impossible to hold Oxitec liable for anything that’s incorrect or missing if the experiments have been approved based on a different risk assessment that they claim they haven’t even seen.”