Genetically Engineered Salmon1

 

Broadcast: Jan 28, 2003
By Mario Ritter

This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.
A number of companies are expected to seek approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration to produce genetically¹ engineered animals. However, a recent report questions whether the F-D-A can supervise the production of such animals.

For example, Aqua Bounty² Farms is a company based in Waltham, Massachusetts. It has developed a kind of salmon³ that grows much faster than natural salmon. It will be among the first companies to seek F-D-A approval for a bio-engineered fish.

Many environmentalists2 oppose the fast-growing salmon. They fear that such fish could endanger natural salmon if they escape into the wild.

A public policy group, the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology, released a new study on the issue. The study says the F-D-A may not be able to legally supervise bio-engineered fish under existing law. The F-D-A has said current laws permit it to supervise foods and drugs. A top administrator⁴ says that should be enough. Current law considers the genetically engineered salmon to be a new animal drug.?

Yet, the F-D-A may not be able to ban a bio-engineered animal if it is a threat to the environment. The report says this is a weakness in the current food and drug laws. It also presents another legal possibility. The F-D-A's power to supervise such animals as drugs? could be cancelled in the courts.

Aqua Bounty Farms has made many details of their research public. However, the company has done more than the law requires. Current food and drug laws make the approval process for genetically engineered animals a secret. The secrecy⁵ protects the rights of companies that develop the new animals. However, it also prevents public comment on the new animals.

The report raises other questions as well. It says that the F-D-A may not have the resources to supervise animals that are genetically engineered to be used as food or to produce drugs. The resources of the Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Fisheries Service may be needed for effective supervision⁶.

The Pew Initiative report does not oppose genetically engineered animals. It says there could be good results from such animals. But there also could be risks. The report is meant only to suggest possible legal problems in supervising production of these animals.

1. salmon [5sAmEn] n. 鲑鱼，大马哈鱼
2. environmentalist [In7vaIErEn5mentlIst] n. 环境保护者

1 genetically   

adv.遗传上

参考例句：

• All the bees in the colony are genetically related. 同一群体的蜜蜂都有亲缘关系。
• Genetically modified foods have already arrived on American dinner tables. 经基因改造加工过的食物已端上了美国人的餐桌。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 基因与食物

2 bounty   

n.慷慨的赠予物，奖金；慷慨，大方；施与

参考例句：

• He is famous for his bounty to the poor.他因对穷人慷慨相助而出名。
• We received a bounty from the government.我们收到政府给予的一笔补助金。

3 salmon   

n.鲑，大马哈鱼，橙红色的

参考例句：

• We saw a salmon jumping in the waterfall there.我们看见一条大马哈鱼在那边瀑布中跳跃。
• Do you have any fresh salmon in at the moment?现在有新鲜大马哈鱼卖吗？

4 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

5 secrecy   

n.秘密，保密，隐蔽

参考例句：

• All the researchers on the project are sworn to secrecy.该项目的所有研究人员都按要求起誓保守秘密。
• Complete secrecy surrounded the meeting.会议在绝对机密的环境中进行。

6 supervision   

n.监督，管理

参考例句：

• The work was done under my supervision.这项工作是在我的监督之下完成的。
• The old man's will was executed under the personal supervision of the lawyer.老人的遗嘱是在律师的亲自监督下执行的。