January 18, 1996
Action Alert! USDA Reviewing Application to Release
Genetically Engineered Mite
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is currently
reviewing the first request of its kind to field test a
genetically engineered arthropod -- a classification of
animals that includes insects, spiders, mites, crabs and
shrimp. USDA's review of this application will set the
precedent for oversight of this group of engineered animals.
Thus far, according to USDA staff, the Department is not
planning to have either an official public comment period or
hearing on this important application and intends only to
issue a notice in the Federal Register once the decision is
made.
The application, submitted by a University of Florida
scientist, requests permission from the USDA to conduct a
field test with a transgenic mite (a small insect-like
organism) that feeds on spider mites, a pest of strawberries
and ornamental crops. The transgenic mite is of interest to
scientists because of its potential for biological control.
The mite has been engineered to contain a bacterial gene that
functions as a marker, making it easy for researchers to
track the organism in the environment. Future experiments
will introduce other new genes intended to modify the mite to
enhance its ability to kill pests.
According to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), it is
likely that this application will be followed by a number of
other requests to release transgenic arthropods. At this
time, genetically engineered medflies, mosquitoes, honey
bees, cotton bollworms and many other insects have been
created in laboratories for a variety of purposes including
insecticide resistance, disease resistance and enhanced
performance, and are moving through the research pipeline.
Commercialization of these organisms would result in their
widespread release and use in the environment.
Genetically engineered arthropods present potentially
significant environmental risks due to the following factors:
-- many arthropods reproduce rapidly and in great numbers;
-- they play a variety of important ecological roles
including pests, beneficial predators and pollinators;
-- many arthropods are quite small (the transgenic mite is
about the size of a period ending a sentence);
-- many can move considerable distances; and
-- most would be difficult to control once released.
To ensure high standards of scientific review and ecological
integrity, UCS is urging the USDA to delay any decision on
the current application until the Department holds a public
meeting where scientists and other interested parties may
discuss principles for assessing the risks of transgenic
arthropods. In addition, UCS is also recommending that USDA
notify the public of the application in the Federal Register
and provide a 90-day comment period to allow full public
participation in the decision.
What you can do:
Write to USDA urging the Department to delay a decision on
the transgenic mite experiment until it holds a public
meeting and provides a 90-day public comment period. Send
your letter to:
Dr. Lonnie King, Administrator
USDA/APHIS
AG-Box 3401, Room 312E
Washington, DC 20090-3054
Fax 202-720-3668
Refer to application number 95-326-02r
Source/contact: Dr. Jane Rissler, Union of Concerned
Scientists, 1616 P Street NW, Suite 310, Washington DC 20036;
phone (202) 332-0900; fax (202) 332-0905; email
jrissler@ucsusa.org.
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