Not all genetic technologies used in veterinary medicine fall under the categories of “mRNA vaccines” or “mRNA gene therapies.” There are other terms to look out for.
There are several DNA and RNA-based genetic technologies that have received United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) approval or conditional approval for use on chickens, cows, fish, and pigs.
The required labelling for meat, dairy and egg products is not transparent about possible exposure to DNA or RNA-based veterinary biologics.
Note: Although the following article relates to veterinary products used in the USA, it is relevant to the UK as well. Earlier this year the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 quietly came into force, paving the way for gene-edited crops and livestock to be introduced on UK farms.
In January 2021, the UK Government announced a consultation on gene editing to ask whether the practice could be redefined and whether regulations regarding its use could be relaxed. The outcome would be that genome-edited (“GE”) farm animals and crops would be excluded from the definition of genetically modified organisms (“GMOs”).
Consequently, products made from GE animals and crops would not be labelled as such, resulting in a huge impact on consumers.
In September 2021, the Government announced it was seeking to bring forward primary legislation “at a suitable opportunity to amend the regulatory definitions of a GMO to exclude organisms that have genetic changes that could have been achieved through traditional breeding or which could occur naturally.”
On 31 October 2022, the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill returned to the UK Parliament for its third reading. On 27 March 2023, the Bill was signed into law.
Read more:
- The Government is set to approve gene editing in farm animals and we’re extremely worried, RSPCA, 17 September 2021
- Bill Gates has been giving UKAid tens of millions to genetically modify livestock, The Exposé, 4 January 2023
- Disbelief as “Green King Charles” Gives Royal Assent to New Gene Breeding Technology, Global Research, 20 May 2023
- Genetic Technologies on Gov.UK
- Search Defra’s Veterinary Medicines Directorate product information database for veterinary medicines authorised in Great Britain and Northern Ireland HERE.
No comments:
Post a Comment