Proceedings 2017/007

Proceedings of the National Science Response Process for the Environmental and Indirect Human Health Risk Assessment of the AquAdvantage® Salmon; July 17-19, 2013

Chairpersons: Stephen Stephen and Mark Hovorka
Editors: Mark Hovorka, Caroline Mimeault and Colin McGowan

Summary

In accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding between Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Environment Canada, and Health Canada, DFO is responsible for conducting the environmental and indirect human health risk assessments of fish products of biotechnology in support of the New Substances Notification Regulations (Organisms) [NSNR(O)] under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999). On April 30, 2013, a regulatory notification was submitted to Environment Canada by AquaBounty Canada Inc. for the production of eggs for AquAdvantage® Salmon (AAS), a genetically-modified salmon, at a facility in Prince Edward Island, Canada. The company planned to ship the eggs to a facility in Panama, where the fish would be raised. DFO conducted environmental and indirect human health risk assessments of AAS, and developed recommendations to support a regulatory decision by the Minister of the Environment. The purpose of the Science Response Process was to undertake a national peer review of the risk assessment and develop scientific consensus on the risk assessment outcomes and recommendations to be provided to Environment Canada.  The National Science Response Meeting was held July 17-19, 2013 in Ottawa, Ontario. The terms of reference and agenda for this process are found in Appendix 1 and 2, respectively. Participants included scientists from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Environment Canada and Health Canada, Provincial Government, academia and other invited experts (Appendix 3). Documents resulting from this peer review process include the Science Response Report (DFO 2013) and these proceedings.

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