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In its quest for the ultimate protection, the “life sciences” industry has invented ways of drafting its patents that are more or less legitimate and solid. Here we look at the main ones. Genetic sequences (of DNA or RNA [1]) are a succession of “letters” (or nucleic basis or nucleotides) whose translation produces a protein. The […]

On 20 May 2023, the new Austrian Patent Act came into force. It specifies the exclusions from patentability in the field of plants and animals. One of the aims of these changes is to guarantee a degree of independence for breeders from patent right holders. What will happen in fine?

After six years’ work, a research team at Washington State University has succeeded in genetically modifying pigs to turn them into surrogate sires. In other words, carrier fathers. These pigs obtained using the CRISPR/Cas9 molecular system have even been authorised for consumption on an experimental basis, without any prior health assessment. What hidden or overt […]

On 24 May, the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council (Conseil économique social et environnemental – CESE) issued an opinion on GMOs derived from so-called new techniques. Commissioned by the Prime Minister, the opinion was delivered within a very tight deadline. It recommends a legal regime close to that currently applicable to GMOs. But all […]

After foods, the Canadian government has turned its attention to seeds derived from new genetic modification techniques. Without any real democratic debate, it is allowing these GMO seeds to be released into the environment without health and environmental risk assesment. After foods in May 2022 [1], the Canadian government has turned its attention to seeds. On […]

In 2023, German and Spanish customs notified the presence of transgenic rice on their territory. This GM rice is not allowed for importation into Europe. Commercial cultivation is currently very limited. Only the golden rice, genetically modified to produce vitamin A, is cultivated in the Philippines. However, since 2006, GM rice has been regularly found […]

After transgenic mosquitoes, Oxitec is disseminating transgenic larvae of Spodoptera frugiperda (OX5382G) on several thousand hectares in Brazil. This agricultural pest has become resistant to several chemical insecticides and to many transgenic Bt plants. Will the release of males with biased progeny circumvent these resistances? Brazil is the second country, after the United States, in […]

“The industry can influence the scientific literature used for […] the work of experts”. This observation was not made by NGOs opposed to Bayer, Corteva or other multinationals. It was formulated by a committee of French experts, the Anses, which is notably involved in dealing with applications for GMO and pesticide authorizations. In a report […]

On 24 April 2023, the European Ombudsman opened an inquiry against the European Commission in the context of the planned revision of the GMO regulation. Whereas the European Commission is losing support on its legislative agenda, this inquiry seems to weaken it even more. For several years, the European Commission has been considering a new […]