Dive Brief:
- European Union member states are getting the power to ban genetically modified organisms in their country, regardless if GMOs have been approved by EU food safety officials.
- As for U.S. news, once a supporter of tackling the GMO issue in Oregon, former Gov. John Kitzhaber has resigned over alleged influence-peddling, and it isn't clear if his replacement, new Gov. Kate Brown, will be as involved in sorting out the state's GMO debate.
- The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) sought to amend regulations regarding certain GMOs in 2008, but now the organization is withdrawing that proposed rule, citing the scope of more than 88,000 comments received, experiences over the past 28 years, and advancements in biotechnology.
Dive Insight:
GMO news has been brewing both in the U.S. and abroad as of late. Just yesterday, Food Dive reported on a GMO testing crop that's near its final phase in India as well as the expansion of GMO corn acceptance at U.S. grain elevators. Also, the maker of the recently USDA-approved GMO Arctic apples, Okanagan Specialty Fruits, is now the subject of acquisition plans by Intrexon Corporation. Clearly there is no one opinion on the matter as news supporting both sides of the issue is released daily.