To: Stephen Ostroff, Acting Commissioner of the FDA
FDA: Reject GMO Mosquitoes!
I urge the Food and Drug Administration to reject Oxitec's application to release genetically engineered mosquitoes in the U.S. (FDA-2014-N-2235).
This experiment is being proposed without the consent of the local community. And the FDA hasn’t even looked at potential risks to the environment, public health, and Florida's tourism-dependent economy.
This experiment is being proposed without the consent of the local community. And the FDA hasn’t even looked at potential risks to the environment, public health, and Florida's tourism-dependent economy.
Why is this important?
British corporation Oxitec has been working since 2011 to release genetically engineered (GMO) mosquitoes in Florida.
These GMO mosquitoes would kill off one species of mosquito, but pave the way for possibly more-dangerous mosquitoes to move in, carrying harmful diseases like West Nile virus and dengue fever. Why release these biotech insects if they could cause the introduction of something worse?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an initial finding of "no significant impact" for allowing these mosquitoes to be released in the Florida Keys. Public comments on this finding are being accepted until May 13.
Join us in telling the FDA that it's too risky to allow the release of GMO mosquitoes in Florida — or elsewhere.
These GMO mosquitoes would kill off one species of mosquito, but pave the way for possibly more-dangerous mosquitoes to move in, carrying harmful diseases like West Nile virus and dengue fever. Why release these biotech insects if they could cause the introduction of something worse?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an initial finding of "no significant impact" for allowing these mosquitoes to be released in the Florida Keys. Public comments on this finding are being accepted until May 13.
Join us in telling the FDA that it's too risky to allow the release of GMO mosquitoes in Florida — or elsewhere.