Final answer:
The statement concerning the prohibition of an Experimental Use Permit (EUP) for testing in waters that affect organisms used as food or feed is incorrect. An EUP is part of the regulatory environment ensuring safe testing of GE crops, with the scientific consensus confirming the safety of GE crops for human consumption while acknowledging the need for careful ecological assessment. The option (C) is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "An EUP will not be issued for testing in waters that affect fish, shellfish, or plants that are to be taken as food or feed" is not true of the EPA's Experimental Use Permit (EUP). An EUP is a regulatory mechanism that ensures safe and monitored testing of genetically engineered (GE) crops in the environment, including aquatic environments where there might be food or feed concerns. In fact, the allowance or prohibition of an EUP in such situations would depend on a risk assessment that the EPA conducts, considering factors such as the potential for harm to non-target organisms, potential effects on water quality, and the likelihood of the transgene escaping into the wild.
GE crops, including those tested under an EUP, have been a source of considerable scientific investigation and debate. The scientific consensus, including reports from the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), is that GE crops are safe when it comes to human consumption and do not present more risk to human health than conventionally bred crops.
However, the ecological impacts of GE crops are complex and need to be carefully studied within broader ecosystems. Critics argue for prudence in the cultivation of GE crops due to potential benefits and hazards to the environment. This necessitates ongoing research and monitoring, particularly for newly developed GE crops that may interact with natural and human-modified ecosystems in unforeseen ways. As such, the EUP is an important tool in the responsible development and testing of GE crops. Therefore, option (C) is correct.
This question is not complete, Here I am attaching the complete question:
What is not true of EPA's experimental use permit?
(A) An EUP is not required for laboratory or greenhouse tests
(B) "An EUP is required even if the engineered gene has been shown to be safe in one GE crop, if the transgene is being tested in a different crop"
(C) "An EUP will not be issued for testing in waters that affect fish, shellfish, or plants that are to be taken as food or feed"
(D) An EUP is not required if field test is less than 10 acres of water
(E) An EUP requires that all treated crops be gathered and destroyed