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| Biotech Updates |
| Updates and Snippets - January 26, 2001 |
| The Washington Post reported on January 23 that Aventis and
the attorney-generals from 17 states had reached an agreement for compensating
farmers and grain handlers who lost money due to the contamination of corn
shipments with Aventis' StarLink corn, a variety approved for feed but
not for food use.
The Washington Post estimated the cost to Aventis
between $100 million and $1 billion.
Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37485-2001Jan23.html
The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control are continuing their investigation of approximately 20 people who reported allergic-like reactions last fall after eating food containing corn. The government agencies are trying to figure out if the reactions are allergic reactions to corn, and if so, if specifically to the Cry9C protein of StarLink corn. The results of the investigation are not expected for another month.
The EPA has not responded yet to Aventis' petition for an exemption from tolerance for Cry9C protein. In November the company presented further evidence that it claimed showed that the Cry9C protein is not a likely allergen at the amounts likely to be found in the US corn supply. However, EPA's Scientific Advisory Panel in December advised EPA that the panel considered the protein has a medium likelihood of being an allergen and a low probability of triggering allergic reactions given the current amount of StarLink corn in the US corn supply.
The Japanese Ministry of Health announced that on two separate occasions samples of US corn that tested negative for StarLink when assayed by the USDA later tested positive when assayed in Japan by the Ministry of Health. US and Japanese officials conferred in Tokyo on January 25 to troubleshoot the discrepancy. If not resolved, this could clog corn trade between the US and Japan.
On January 18 the FDA published in the Federal Register its proposed rule that if finalized will make mandatory the current voluntary review of foods from crops developed using recombinant DNA technology. The Clinton Administration launched this initiative in May. The FDA also published guidelines for voluntary labeling of food from crops that either are or are not genetically engineered. Link to Federal Register searchsite; http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html |
| For more information, contact:
Tom Zinnen 425 Henry Mall Madison WI 53706 608-265-2420 zinnen@biotech.wisc.edu |
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