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Oregon biopharming panel sees way to protect health, advance work (1/11/2006)

Seems that at least one US state isn't gagging to have its food crops laced with pharmaceuticals.

EXTRACT: State directors of agriculture and public health should have veto rights over applications.

Only crops not designed for human or animal consumption should be used. If food crops are used, they should be grown indoors unless the applicant can demonstrate why outdoor plantings are "desirable and safe."

Applicants should carry insurance to cover potential damages their crops could cause, such as humans being accidentally exposed to allergens.
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Biopharming panel sees way to protect health, advance work
By Alex Pulaski OregonLive.com, 31 Oct 2006
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1162268725117130.xml&coll=7

OREGON - A state committee on biopharming made final recommendations Monday on how to regulate crops designed to make drugs.

The committee's report suggests ways Oregon can protect public health while leaving the door open to new technology.

The 10-member group's meeting in Portland ended a year of work. Its report to Gov. Ted Kulongoski and the Legislature is designed to provide guidance on a bill expected to be introduced during the next several months.

In general, the document finalized Monday reflects an earlier draft. Several areas were deleted or reworked to respond to three dozen public comments -- most of them adamantly opposed to genetically altering crops to create pharmaceuticals, although no such crops are currently grown in Oregon.

The committee, made up of state agricultural and health officials and scientists, stemmed from a failed 2005 bill that would have placed a four-year state moratorium on biopharming.

Rick North, who spearheaded the bill for the state chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility, said the report "obviously is not as strong as the bill, but it's a step in the right direction. A lot will depend on how the bill is written."

Katy Coba, a committee member who heads the state Agriculture Department, said the two main components of the bill being drafted are to allow the state to charge a permit fee for biopharming applicants and to provide that the proprietary information applicants give cannot be disclosed to the public.

Highlights of the committee's recommendations include:

Federal and state officials should collaborate in reviewing biopharming applications, instead of the current system that relies solely on federal review. State directors of agriculture and public health should have veto rights over applications.

Only crops not designed for human or animal consumption should be used. If food crops are used, they should be grown indoors unless the applicant can demonstrate why outdoor plantings are "desirable and safe."

Applicants should carry insurance to cover potential damages their crops could cause, such as humans being accidentally exposed to allergens.

Alex Pulaski, 503-221-8516; [email protected]
©2006 Oregon Live LLCe

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