22 January 2015. In a joint open letter to the EU Commission, Testbiotech together with several other organisations, is demanding that products derived from new methods of genetic engineering for plants and animals should be risk assessed and labelled. The methods include oligonucleotide techniques, nucleases (DNA scissors) and direct interventions in gene regulation (epigenetics). The regulatory status of some of these techniques is controversial.
EU project rejects further discussions with Testbiotech
19 January 2015. After Testbiotech provided evidence of incorrect or insufficient statements regarding declaration of interests in the context of a publication on a feeding trial carried out under the GRACE project, the GRACE Consortium is now trying to put an end to the debate. According to a media release of 14 January 2015, GRACE no longer sees „any basis for continuing the debate with Testbiotech.“ Their official excuse: Testbiotech refuses to take part in a discussion in a forum hosted by the journal Archives of Toxicology in which the controversial study was published.
Testbiotech publishes a report on behalf of the Green Party in the German Parliament
12 January 2015. A newly published Testbiotech report shows that the introduction of the new free trade agreements between EU and Canada (CETA) and the US (TTIP) will almost certainly lead to lower EU standards in protection of consumers and the environment. Contrary to some public statements that have been made, both the German government and the EU Commission are aware of these consequences. The Testbiotech report was commissioned by the Green group in the German Parliament.
New doubts about the credibility of the EU project GRACE
Friday, 9 January 2015
The EU Commission has replied to the Testbiotech report on a feeding trial with genetically engineered maize conducted as part of the EU GRACE project. However, the Commission does not discuss in detail the points raised. Instead, it is emphasised that the participation of industry is generally intended within this project. As the report of Testbiotech showed, the publication of the results of the trial with rats fed with genetically engineered maize MON810 makes no mention of indications of health impacts in the rats.
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