“EFSA is unaware of the facts, or seemingly trying to mislead public perception”
Wednesday, 15 June 2016
In an open letter to the EFSA Management Board, Testbiotech and GeneWatch UK are urging them to take measures to safeguard the independence of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and restore its credibility. The reasons for this are recent cases of conflicts of interest:
The European Patent Office and companies are turning animal experiments into an unethical business
Thursday, 2 June 2016
The next round in the legal battle against patents held by a US company on genetically engineered chimpanzees has now started. After the European Patent Office (EPO) rejected joint oppositions against patents EP1572862 and EP1456346, the opponents are appealing the decision. Intrexon has claimed genetically engineered mice, rats, rabbits, cats, dogs, cattle, pigs, horses, sheep and even chimpanzees as its invention. The animals are supposedly manipulated with some kind of 'gene switch' that targets gene activity in the mammals.
Testbiotech requests that experts with strong affiliations to industry are removed from the FAO/WHO panel
Tuesday, 31 May 2016
In a letter to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Testbiotech has requested that experts with strong affiliations to industry are removed from the Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR). Furthermore, the standards for avoiding conflict of interests within this body need to be raised substantially. The letter was written and sent in response to a recent assessment of the herbicide glyphosate carried out by the JMPR. The JMPR, which is jointly organised by WHO and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), came to the conclusion that glyphosate is not likely to cause cancer.
Soybean Intacta developed by US company Monsanto contains residues from glyphosate and produces an insecticide
Tuesday, 10 May 2016
The Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) has scheduled a hearing for the 12 May on legal action brought against the import of the genetically engineered Monsanto soybeans (T-77/13). MON87701 x MON89788 soybeans were authorised in the EU for use in food and feed. They are grown predominantly in Brazil and sold under the brand name Intacta. These plants have a unique combination of two genetically engineered traits: They express a so-called insecticidal Bt toxin and are resistant to the herbicide glyphosate, commonly known under trade names such as Roundup.