Urge FDA to Protect People, Animals, and the Planet from GE Animals

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the creation of new guidelines for the regulation of genetically engineered (GE) animals, and your voice is needed to make sure their proposal goes far enough to protect us from the dangers and unintended consequences of animal genome editing.

Biotechnology companies are developing more genetically engineered (GE) pigs, birds, fish, and cattle. We know we can make a difference - we already won one lawsuit against the first-ever GE fish, a modified salmon.

Now, we need to build on that victory and push the FDA to implement stronger, more transparent regulations on this emerging industry before the industry itself is allowed to dictate the terms.

Can you add your name to our petition to protect people, animals, and the planet from this new technology?

Who's signing

Message to FDA:

Genetic engineering is still a new field and its consequences are still not fully clear. The FDA must implement strong and transparent regulations regarding the practice of altering the genomic DNA in animals. Often referred to as gene-editing or synthetic biology, this new form of genetic engineering requires stringent oversight. We need the FDA to demand full disclosure of the GE animal's genome, as well as disclosure of "confidential business information" tied to the proposal, to increase transparency and allow public scrutiny of both intended and unintended genetic changes.

Major Transparency Issues with FDA's Proposed Regulation of GE Animals:
  • Confidential Business Information: The FDA currently allows developers to exclude any data they claim as “confidential business information” or “trade secrets” from public disclosure. This can hide potential human and environmental health effects. 
  • Lack of Public Comments: The FDA will no longer accept public comments on new GE animals and will only publish redacted summaries of approved animals. This effectively eliminates any public oversight of new GE animal proposals.
  • No Full Genome Sequencing: The FDA does not require full genome sequencing of new GE animals, a crucial step for identifying differences between gene-editing processes and detecting viruses in GE animals.

Your agency must address these transparency issues and ensure robust regulations that protect public health, wildlife, and the environment.

Thank you. 

Will you sign?