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The Canadian government is getting money from the sales of the GM salmon.The federal government is receiving 10% royalties from sales of the genetically modified (GM or genetically engineered) salmon. The royalties to the government are part of a 2009 $2.8 million-dollar grant agreement between the GM fish company AquaBounty and the federal government Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. The royalties will be paid until the $2.8 million is paid back. However, if the GM salmon is not a commercial success, the company is not required to repay the government funds. In 2013 the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change approved GM salmon production at Bay Fortune in Prince Edward Island (PEI) where GM salmon eggs are currently manufactured and then shipped to Panama for growing at a small pilot site. The company AquaBounty must seek approval from Environment and Climate Change Canada for commercial scale GM salmon production at their Rollo Bay facility in PEI which now under construction. Future payments to the government are linked to the federal environmental risk assessment of GM salmon production at Rollo Bay in PEI. “We’re concerned that the government is responsible for regulating this GM fish and also has a stake in its success,” said Lucy Sharratt of the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN). Read and share today’s press release. The GM salmon is sold on the Canadian market without labels for consumers. CBAN and other environmental groups are calling on the government to halt any further assessments of the GM salmon until the government takes steps to increase transparency in the regulatory process and marketplace, including by establishing mandatory labelling of GM foods. Click here to instantly send your letter to the Minister asking for a full environmental assessment. What do you think about the government getting money from sales of GM salmon? Send your comments to info@cban.ca Check CBAN’s guide “How to Avoid Eating GM Salmon” Click here for details on the federal grant agreement. And more information on the GM salmon see www.cban.ca/fish Donate today to support CBAN’s research and monitoring. This Week So Far:Also, on Friday, Health Canada announced its decision to approve the genetically engineered Vitamin-A enhanced “Golden Rice” for human consumption – despite the fact that it will not be sold in Canada. Health Canada says it is intended for use in countries where diets are typically low in vitamin A, primarily in Asia. Why did Health Canada review the safety of a GM food that Canadians will not be eating? Read our Tuesday press release for more information and analysis. Yesterday, Europe approved the merger between Monsanto and Bayer – but the Canadian Competition Bureau has not yet approved it. If the merger is allowed, the new company could control around 30% of the world’s commercial seed market and 25% of agricultural pesticides. Four companies will control two thirds of the global seed market and around 70% of pesticides. This degree of corporate control could increase the price of seed, decrease choice in the marketplace for Canadian farmers, and stifle research and development. You can take action instantly at www.cban.ca/stopthemerger Donate today to support our research and monitoring.
The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) brings together 16 organizations to research, monitor and raise awareness about issues relating to genetic engineering in food and farming. CBAN members include farmer associations, environmental and social justice organizations, and regional coalitions of grassroots groups. CBAN is a project on Tides Canada’s shared platform. Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) PO Box 25182, Clayton Park, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3M 4H4 Phone : 902 852 5555
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