Aqua Bounty Technologies, Inc. Canadian authorities approve AquAdvantage Salmon (8068Y)
May 20 2016 - 2:00AM
UK Regulatory
TIDMABTU
RNS Number : 8068Y
Aqua Bounty Technologies, Inc.
19 May 2016
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
("AquaBounty" or "the Company")
AquaBounty's AquAdvantage(R) Salmon approved by Health
Canada
Canada becomes second country to determine AquAdvantage Salmon
is safe to eat and poses no environmental concern
MAYNARD, Massachusetts, 20 May 2016 - AquaBounty Technologies,
Inc. (AIM: ABTU; OTC: AQBT), a biotechnology company focused on
enhancing productivity in aquaculture and a majority-owned
subsidiary of Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON), announces that
Health Canada has concluded its review of the AquAdvantage Salmon
("AAS") and has approved it for commercial sale in Canada.
Additionally the Animal Feed Division of the Animal Health
Directorate of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has
determined that feed ingredients derived from AAS do not present
livestock feed safety or nutrition concerns when compared with
feeds derived from other permitted salmon to be used as livestock
feed in Canada.
Ronald L. Stotish, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of AquaBounty,
commented: "We are pleased to receive the approvals of the various
authorities of Canada, which means we can produce, sell and eat our
AquAdvantage Salmon in Canada. We thank the scientists in the
Ministries of Health, Food Inspection and Fisheries of the Canadian
Government for carrying out their assessments diligently and
confirming the safety of our salmon for both the consumer and the
environment.
"Alongside the approval by the FDA in November 2015, there are
now two independent reviews by two of the most sophisticated and
demanding regulators in the world and both have come to the same
conclusion. We look forward to bringing our nutritious salmon to
consumers to enjoy in an environmentally responsible manner without
damaging and exploiting the oceans, with the assurance it is as
safe and healthy as the Atlantic salmon they are eating now."
Health Canada Safety Assessment
Health Canada (HC), the department of the government of Canada
with responsibility for national public health, conducted a
comprehensive assessment of AAS according to the Codex Alimentarius
Guideline for the Conduct of Food Safety Assessment of Foods
Derived from Recombinant-DNA Animals. These guidelines are
internationally accepted principles for establishing the safety of
foods with novel traits. The safety assessment considered:
-- how AAS was developed;
-- how the composition and nutritional quality of AAS compares to non-modified salmon;
-- what the potential is for AAS to be toxic or cause allergic reactions; and
-- the health status of AAS.
The Health Canada review concluded that AAS does not raise
concerns related to food safety. The Department also noted its
opinion that fillets derived from AAS are as safe and nutritious as
fillets from currently available farmed Atlantic salmon.
Health Canada Notes Previous Determination by Fisheries and
Oceans Canada
The report produced by Health Canada noted that Fisheries and
Oceans Canada (DFO) conducted an environmental and indirect human
health risk assessment in 2013 for fish products of biotechnology,
which concluded that there was no concern for the environment or
indirect human health from the contained production of these
fish.
CFIA Determination
The Animal Feed Division (AFD) considered both intended and
unintended effects and similarities and differences between AAS and
unmodified salmon relative to the safety and nutrition of feed
ingredients derived from AAS for their intended purpose,
including:
-- the potential impact of AAS on animal health and human
safety, as it relates to the potential transfer of residues into
foods of animal origin and worker/bystander exposure to the
feed;
-- the potential impact of AAS on livestock nutrition; and
-- the potential impact of feeds derived from AAS on the environment.
The AFD also considered whether feeds derived from AAS meet the
definitions and requirements of feeds as listed in Schedule IV of
the Feeds Regulations. It concluded that, as of 19 May 2016, feed
ingredients derived from AAS are authorized for use in livestock
feeds.
For further information, please contact:
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. +1 978 648 6048
David Frank, Chief Financial Officer
Stifel Nicolaus Europe Ltd +44 (0)20 7710 7600
Stewart Wallace
Luther Pendragon Ltd +44 (0)20 7618 9100
Harry Chathli, Claire Norbury
###
About AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. is a publicly traded company whose
largest shareholder is Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON). Intrexon
is a synthetic biology company with diverse interests in medicine,
food and agriculture, and fuels and the environment. AquaBounty is
an aquaculture company focused on improving productivity in
commercial aquaculture, a $157 billion industry and the
fastest-growing segment of the worldwide food industry.
AquaBounty's objective is the application of biotechnology to
ensure the availability of high-quality seafood to meet global
consumer demand. AquaBounty is developing products to address
critical production constraints in the most popular farmed species,
focusing initially on salmon and trout. Its AquAdvantage fish
program is based upon a single, specific trait that results in more
rapid growth, particularly in early development.
Safe Harbor Statement
Some of the statements made in this press release are
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are
based upon our current expectations and projections about future
events and generally relate to our plans, objectives, and
expectations for the development of our business, including the
commercial availability of our products. Although management
believes that the plans and objectives reflected in or suggested by
these forward-looking statements are reasonable, all
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and
actual future results may be materially different from the plans,
objectives, and expectations expressed in this press release.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
MSCGGUUWAUPQPUB
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 20, 2016 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)
Aqua Bty Di (LSE:ABTU)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2024 to May 2024
Aqua Bty Di (LSE:ABTU)
Historical Stock Chart
From May 2023 to May 2024