FDA sets Sept. meeting on GMO salmon

Biotechnology firm AquaBounty Technologies of Waltham, Mass., on Wednesday announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will meet next month to discuss and potentially approve its pending application for its genetically modified farmed salmon.

The company said the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine wants to discuss a potential recommendation regarding the approval of AquaBounty’s AquAdvantage® Salmon at a meeting of the Veterinary Medicine Advisory Committee (VMAC).

The meeting is scheduled for 19 to 20 September at the Rockville Hilton, in Rockville, Md. Additionally, the FDA will hold a public hearing on the application of its food-labeling requirements and how it might apply to AquAdvantage® Salmon on 21 September at the same location.

AquaBounty says the technology will allow salmon farmers to grow fish to market size of about 8 pounds in just 18 months, compared to the standard 36 months using current technology.

The VMAC advises the FDA’s Office of the Commissioner in discharging its responsibilities as they relate to assuring safe and effective products over which the agency has regulatory responsibility. The committee reviews and evaluates available data concerning the safety and effectiveness of the product in question and makes appropriate recommendations to the commissioner.

“This is welcome and exciting news for the company as we near the end of the detailed and necessary process to receive regulatory approval for our AquAdvantage® Salmon,” said Dr. Ronald Stotish, AquaBounty president and CEO. “The meeting will provide an opportunity for the public to understand how the application of our technology will enable the safe and sustainable production of high quality fish. We believe the economic and environmental benefits of our salmon will very effectively help to meet the demand for food from the growing world population.”

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