An Island coalition is demanding that Environment Canada disclose if it has begun an environmental assessment of production of genetically engineered (GE) Atlantic salmon eggs at a facility in Bay Fortune, P.E.I.
The company, AquaBounty, has asked the United States Food and Drug Administration to approve its GE Atlantic salmon for human consumption in the U.S. A final decision could be made as early as Tuesday.
The coalition is calling on Premier Robert Ghiz to intervene and get answers.
AquaBounty plans to produce all of its GE salmon eggs at Bay Fortune. It will then ship the eggs to Panama for growing out and processing and then sell into the U.S.
There is a global controversy about the health and environmental impact of GE salmon as well as the inadequacy of the scientific evidence presented by AquaBounty to the FDA, says Leo Broderick of the Council of Canadians.
"Both AquaBounty and Environment Canada refuse to tell the public if an environmental assessment for GE fish eggs has even begun," said Broderick.
He said he called Environment Canada who refused to answer if they are currently looking at an application from AquaBounty, saying this information was confidential.
"Environment Canada must immediately tell P.E.I. residents if they have already begun their 120 day process to approve GE salmon eggs production here.
"It's outrageous that the public has no input at all and cannot know when or if the process has started. Premier Ghiz must intervene in the interest of protecting P.E.I.'s environment and reputation," adds Broderick.
"And why is there no public input? And why is the province excluded in the process," said Sharon Labchuk of Earth Action P.E.I.
She said Environment Canada will assess the environmental risks of commercial scale GE salmon egg production in a completely secret process. The
department must reach its decision in 120 days of receiving a request.
"We hope the premier will play a positive and proactive role in providing transparency for Islanders," said Mary Boyd of the P.E.I. Health Coalition.
The group is asking the premier to insist Environment Canada notify the province when it begins an environmental assessment for GE salmon egg production, that the province be consulted on environmental risk questions and be notified immediately if approval is granted.
It also wants to hold public consultations on whether or not AquaBounty should be permitted to produce GE salmon eggs on P.E.I.
The group is also calling on the Canadian government to ban the sale of any GE animal, and to introduce legislation declaring P.E.I. a GMO-free province.
