EPA Approves Public Comment Period for Oxitec’s Friendly™ Mosquito Pilot Projects in California
Media Advisory
31 August 2021
EPA Approves Public Comment Period for Oxitec’s Friendly™ Mosquito Pilot
Projects in California
Official process underway to enable Oxitec’s safe, non-biting male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to support mosquito control districts in Northern California, the Central Valley and Southern California
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today the opening of a 30-day open public comment period in the U.S. Federal Register for an Experimental Use Permit (EUP) application to pilot Oxitec technology in California. With support from many of California’s mosquito control districts, this represents the next step in making Oxitec’s non-biting male Friendly™ Aedes aegypti mosquitoes available for pilot projects in the state.
This expansion to California follows the successful launch of Oxitec’s pilot project with the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District in the Florida Keys beginning April 2021 after regulatory approvals by the US EPA and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).
As part of the EPA’s standard EUP application process, the comment period gives the public a 30-day opportunity to provide opinion on the application. This can be done via the EPA docket, which can be accessed here.
Oxitec’s mosquitoes are a safe and proven tool to combat the invasive Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Previous projects in the Brazilian city of Indaiatuba found that Oxitec’s mosquito suppressed disease-carrying Aedes aegypti by up to 95% in urban, dengue-prone environments following just 13 weeks of treatment, as compared to untreated control sites in the same city.[1]
Since first being detected in 2013 in California, invasive Aedes aegypti mosquitoes have spread to more than 20 counties throughout the state, increasing the potential for transmission of dengue, chikungunya, Zika, yellow fever and other diseases.
Oxitec will work closely with interested mosquito control agencies to determine the location, size, and scope of potential pilot programs. After EPA and state regulatory approvals, Oxitec and its local government partners would carry out extensive consultations with citizens, community groups, businesses, and a range of additional stakeholders using Oxitec’s transparent approach to public engagement and partnerships.
Quote from Oxitec CEO Grey Frandsen: “We’re thankful for the strong local support we’ve received throughout California, and we look forward to getting to work once the EPA and state regulators complete their approval process. Our need for Oxitec’s technology is becoming increasingly urgent as the threat of Aedes aegypti grows and as governments seek new, highly effective solutions that don’t damage the environment. We appreciate the EPA’s stewardship of our application and encourage interested parties to submit their comments during this open comment period.”
Oxitec welcomes all media inquiries.
Learn more: oxitec.com/california
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About Oxitec
Oxitec is the leading developer of biological solutions to control pests that transmit disease, destroy crops and harm livestock. Founded in 2002 at the University of Oxford, Oxitec is led by a passionate team comprised of 15 nationalities and is supported by world-class partners. Learn more at oxitec.com.
[1] 95% was the high 2-week rolling average and the individual weekly high was 98%; the highest 4-week rolling average was 92%.