AquaBounty Technologies, announced on Mondauy that Environment Canada, the agency of the government of Canada with responsibility for regulating environmental policies and issues, has decided that AquAdvantage Salmon is not harmful to the environment or human health when produced in contained facilities.
The publication of the Significant New Activity Notice recognizes that AquaBounty’s hatchery, which produces sterile, all-female eggs, is no longer solely a research facility but can produce eggs on a commercial scale without harm to the environment or human health.
“We are pleased to note that, after a rigorous examination of our hatchery facility and the Standard Operating Procedures used to produce AAS eggs, Environment Canada is satisfied that we can responsibly produce our sterile, all-female eggs on a commercial scale,” said Ron Stotish, AquaBounty CEO.
“This is a significant milestone in our efforts to make AquAdvantage Salmon available for commercial production. However, our eggs and fish will not be available for sale until they are approved by the relevant national regulatory bodies. When these approvals are in place, we look forward to demonstrating the value of AAS for a land-based and environmentally-sustainable production system.”
Environment Canada made its conclusion following a risk assessment conducted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada involving a panel of independent scientific experts knowledgeable in the fields of transgenics and fish containment technology.
The publication describes conditions that would be regarded as Significant New Activities (SNAcs) with regard to
AquAdvantage Salmon and the measures Environment Canada would expect to evaluate if those activities were proposed. AquaBounty confirms that, currently, all anticipated activities fall well within the scope of the approval given by Environment Canada.
