October 30, 2014

Panama fines GM salmon producer over regulatory violations

A facility in Panama under AquaBounty Technologies has been fined for alleged regulatory violations in its efforts to develop genetically-modified (GM) salmons, according to news reports.

The action came following a 2012 investigation of AquaBounty's facilities which found that the company had failed to obtain necessary permits, especially from environment authorities.

Panamanian authorities claimed the company's violations had been an issue which persisted into 2013. In response, Aquabounty claimed that while concerns were mainly administrative in nature, it had already taken care of the deficiencies.

"When AquaBounty was informed of issues at our Panama facility, we immediately contacted Anam, the Panamanian agency for the environment. We initiated a programme to remedy the deficiencies and the issues were formally resolved in August of 2014", a company press release said, adding that the facility in question "continues to operate with no sanctions or restrictions."

AquaBounty is currently waiting for the US to approve its application to sell GM salmon fillets in the country. Those products will originate from the company's breeding facility in Panama.

If approved, AquaBounty's salmon would be the first GM meat in the world to be sold for human consumption.