USA: Consumer group criticises FDA over biotech safety reviews

A US consumer group has accused regulators of failing to adequately oversee safety reviews of new biotech crops. The Washington-based Centre for Science in the Public Interest said that some applications submitted by biotech companies to the US Food and Drug Administration were incomplete, while some had used faulty methods to test for allergens and evaluate toxins, reported the Associated Press.

January 8, 2003

A US consumer group has accused regulators of failing to adequately oversee safety reviews of new biotech crops.

The Washington-based Centre for Science in the Public Interest said that some applications submitted by biotech companies to the US Food and Drug Administration were incomplete, while some had used faulty methods to test for allergens and evaluate toxins, reported the Associated Press.

The FDA has defended its pre-market review process but a spokesman said the agency would consider the consumer group’s report.