Legislature(2015 - 2016)BARNES 124
04/13/2016 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Alaska Gasline Development Corporation Board of Directors | |
| SB157 | |
| SB158 | |
| SB165 | |
| SB18 | |
| SB69 | |
| HJR28 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | SB 157 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 158 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 126 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 165 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HJR 28 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 18 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 69 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 206 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HJR 28-OPPOSING GM SALMON
5:42:30 PM
CHAIR OLSON announced that the next order of business would be
CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 28(FSH), Opposing the United
States Food and Drug Administration's approval of AquaBounty
AquAdvantage genetically engineered salmon; urging the United
States Congress to enact legislation that requires prominently
labeling genetically engineered products with the words
"Genetically Modified" on the product's packaging; and
supporting the efforts of the state's congressional delegation
to delay the confirmation of the new commissioner of the United
States Food and Drug Administration until the United States Food
and Drug Administration agrees to require labeling for
genetically engineered salmon.
5:42:48 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GERAN TARR, sponsor of CSHJR 28(FSH), provided a
PowerPoint presentation entitled, "HJR 28: Opposing GM Salmon."
Representative Tarr informed the committee that in [November,
2015] the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, approved genetically
modified (GM) salmon, which is the first time a GM animal has
been approved for human consumption [slide 1]. Genetically
modified salmon is modified using Chinook salmon to make the GM
fish grow bigger faster, and Ocean pout, to make the GM fish
grow year-around [slide 2]. The GM fish grow twice as big and
twice as fast as farmed salmon [slide 3]. Representative Tarr
stressed this issue is important to address at this time because
the seafood industry is Alaska's largest private-sector
employer, and is valued at $6 billion to the state. The needs
of Alaskans are different than those of AquaBounty, the company
promoting GM salmon, as indicated by its statement that faster
growing salmon would make land-based fish farming economically
viable [slide 4]. In contrast, Alaskans think of successful
sustainable fisheries management and of wild Alaska salmon, the
fishing economies of coastal communities, and the Bristol Bay
fishery [slides 5 and 6]. She presented illustrations of
AquaBounty fish farming operations producing food items [slide
7]. Concerns about GM salmon include possible threats to wild
salmon, risks to human health, and risks to the state's economy
[slide 8]. Threats to wild salmon are due to escapement;
although AquaBounty reports that GM salmon are grown in land-
based pens, the eggs are produced at a facility on Prince Edward
Island on Bay Fortune, which connects to the Gulf of St.
Lawrence and the Atlantic Ocean [slides 9 and 10]. After the
eggs are produced, they will be flown to South America to be
raised, and then returned to be sold in the U.S. She related
her experience visiting Prince Edward Island residents who are
alarmed by the island's image presented to tourists, and noted
that the residents there are supportive of the Alaska State
Legislature's stance on this issue [slide 11]. Research has
shown that GM salmon can out-compete, and be more aggressive
than, wild salmon, as reported by McGill University [report not
provided][slides 12 and 13]. Representative Tarr said the
report stated that GM salmon was bred with wild brown trout and
research indicated that the hybridized species could out-compete
the GM salmon and its wild counterpart.
5:49:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR further explained that risks to human health
are of great concern because FDA approval was through the
veterinary drug process, thus there are those who feel the drug
has not been sufficiently tested. It is known that there will
be exposure to hormones [slide 14]. Risks to the state's
economy include the negative impact on the price of wild salmon
after the introduction of farmed salmon. The Alaska Seafood
Marketing Institute (ASMI), Department of Commerce, Community &
Economic Development, has invested in branding wild Alaska
salmon for its health benefits, and reports that Alaska wild
salmon is one of the most recognized brands in the U.S. [slide
15]. She observed that Alaska is not alone in opposing GM
salmon, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski has been leading action
related to labeling in Congress. In addition, public pressure
has been effective, and 65 retailers have announced they will
not sell GM salmon [slide 16]. International opposition
includes a lawsuit filed in Canada [slide 17]. Finally, a
lawsuit brought by food safety and fishing groups was filed in
the U.S. 3/31/16, challenging FDA's authority to regulate GM
salmon not as a food product, but as a veterinary drug [slide
19]. Representative Tarr pointed out that she has provided
supporting documents in the committee packet, and restated her
opposition to GM salmon.
5:52:57 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON asked if FDA has the authority to act
in this regard, and whether the agency can be challenged.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR said there are legal remedies, such as a
lawsuit, and statutory remedies related to labeling. Another
option is legislation to ban the sale of GM salmon.
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON assumed that if a label revealed
genetic modification, a product would not succeed economically.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR advised that in the U.S., "We don't do much
with labeling, most European countries have moved on, a lot of
European countries have banned a lot of the genetically modified
products because of concerns about human health ...."
5:54:43 PM
The committee took an at ease from 5:54 p.m. to 5:55 p.m.
5:55:09 PM
CHAIR OLSON opened public testimony. After ascertaining no one
wished to testify, public testimony was closed.
5:55:18 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TILTON moved to report CSHJR 28(FSH), Version 29-
LS1213\H out of committee with individual recommendations and
the accompanying zero fiscal notes. There being no objection,
CSHJR 28(FSH) was reported out of the House Labor and Commerce
Standing Committee.