Beijing, Dec. 27 — In a major development for biotechnology, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first genetically engineered animal for human consumption: a fast-growing salmon. This milestone marks a significant step in the field of genetic engineering, as the fish is set to appear on dinner tables worldwide.
According to a draft environmental assessment released by the FDA, the genetically modified salmon poses no foreseeable risk to the environment. The agency will now go through a 60-day public comment period before finalizing its decision and granting approval for sale. The final report is expected in May, and AquaBounty, the company behind the project, is preparing to bring the fish to market from its facility in Maynard, Massachusetts.
However, the release of the assessment came in May, raising questions about potential delays. Some analysts suggest that political factors may have contributed to the slowdown, especially given the timing during an election year. An FDA spokesperson declined to comment on whether politics influenced the process, but confirmed that additional research might be required after the public review period.
Ron Stotish, CEO of AquaBounty, said he wasn’t surprised by the delay. His company has been seeking FDA approval since 1995, and the journey has been long and challenging. When he first heard about the latest decision, he found it hard to believe. The FDA has reviewed over 50 safety studies, including one showing that the transgenic salmon is no more likely to cause allergic reactions than wild salmon. This genetically modified fish contains a growth hormone gene from the Chinook salmon, allowing it to reach market size in just 18 months—compared to three years for wild fish.
Despite the approval, opposition groups remain skeptical. They call for more independent research into potential health risks and insist that studies should be published in peer-reviewed journals. They also want researchers to have no ties to AquaBounty. However, funding for such research remains uncertain, as federal support for genetically modified animal studies is limited.
Currently, the transgenic salmon are raised in land-based tanks to prevent interbreeding with wild populations. But critics worry that if the fish is approved, companies may shift to open-sea farming to cut costs, posing a threat to native salmon stocks.
AquaBounty has pledged not to sell its fish to farms without closed-system facilities. After spending 17 years and $60 million on the project, Stotish still feels anxious about the future. “We haven’t been naïve enough to think the process would suddenly become smooth,†he said. (Ren Tian)
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