| WASHINGTON (AP) Scientists advising the government on
genetically engineered corn say more research is needed to
determine its impact on the environment and assess the health
risks of new varieties of the grain.
The corn, known as Bt for a bacterium gene it contains, is
genetically altered to produce its own pesticide to kill an
insect pest. Some research has suggested the corn could be
harming an unintended target, Monarch butterflies, in farmers'
fields.
The Environmental Protection Agency, which released a
report Thursday by the scientific advisers, is considering
whether to renew registrations for gene-altered varieties of
corn and cotton.
The panel said extensive field studies of the corn need to
be done. ''Sound science must guide the agency's decisions.
Inappropriate conclusions drawn from inappropriate database
are to be avoided,'' the scientists said.
In a section of the report that could pose problems for
companies developing new varieties of biotech corn, the
scientists said there was ''no data or criteria'' to make
''absolute'' assessments of the potential of new corn proteins
to cause allergic reactions in people.
The National Academy of Sciences last year also recommended
developing new ways to test genetically engineered crops to
see how allergenic they might be.
The biotech industry was put on the defense last fall when
a variety of biotech corn that was not approved for human
consumption was found in taco shells and other food products.
That variety, known as StarLink, has since been withdrawn from
the market, and the EPA is not considering renewing its
license.
StarLink contains a protein that breaks down slowly in the
digestive system, a sign that it could be allergy inducing.
Other varieties of biotech corn digest more quickly, and
the government says they pose no health risk.
The EPA said last fall that biotech corn posed little risk
to the butterflies or anything else it was not supposed to
harm.
Some scientists on the 20-member panel thought that was
''overly optimistic,'' while others believed the EPA's
conclusion was accurate, given the research that has been
published so far, the report said. There appeared to be little
disagreement among the scientists that additional studies were
needed.
''There is a lot of work that industry and EPA needs to do
before they can even think about'' reregistering the biotech
corn, said Jane Rissler, a biotechnology expert with the Union
of Concerned Scientists. ''To me this report has delay written
all over it. It says in so many ways that a lot of work needs
to be done.''
A series of studies sponsored by the Agriculture Department
last summer should address the scientists concerns about the
corn's impact on Monarch butterflies, said Val Giddings, vice
president of food and agriculture for the Biotechnology
Industry Organization.
Results of those studies are expected to be published in a
scientific journal this spring. Scientists involved in the
research say it suggests there is little risk to Monarchs.
''EPA will take into account those studies,'' Giddings
said.
He criticized the scientists for setting what he called a
''zero-risk standard'' for biotech crops that would be
impossible to meet.
''If that were applied to foods in the existing food
supply, many foods generally recognized as safe would be
eliminated,'' such as peanuts, soybeans and milk, of which
cause allergic reactions, he said.
Registrations for existing biotech corn and cotton crops
are due to expire in September.
The EPA said in a statement that would do a ''comprehensive
evaluation'' of those crops, ''taking into account all data
available to the agency.''
On the Net: Environmental Protection Agency's Office of
Science Coordination and Policy's scientific advisory panel: http://www.epa.gov/scipoly/sap/ |