Australian authority: Covid vaccines are genetically modified
An Australian authority recently admitted to an Australian Senate committee that both Pfizer’s and Moderna’s products are GMOs. It is claimed that Australia, Europe, South Africa and the USA have almost identical legislation on GMOs. So why is it that modified RNA is not considered GMO in Sweden?
Source: NewsVoice Sweden Text: Elsa Widding, Sunt Förnuft
In Australia, evidence is presented that vaccines against COVID-19 are genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
See case number: VID510/2023 and Dr Julian Fidge v Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd and Moderna Pty Ltd. Dr Fidge is an Australian medical doctor and trained pharmacist.
The case has been brought under the Australian Gene Technology Act 2000.
Section 10 of the Australian Gene Technology Act defines what a genetically modified organism (GMO) is:
- ‘Any biological entity’.”
- Genetically modified organisms capable of transferring genetic material.
- An organism that has been modified by genetic engineering.
The first part of the definition of GMO is fulfilled by the fact that an organism is a biological entity “capable of transferring genetic material”.
Pfizer’s and Moderna’s covid products contain LNP-modRNA. ModRNA is genetic material so therefore these complexes qualify as “any biological entity” under the Gene Technology Act.
The second part of the GMO definition in Australia is met by the physical mode of transport of the LNP-modRNA.
The lipid nanoparticles (LNP) encapsulate modified RNA which is distributed throughout the body (i.e. does NOT stay in the arm as the pharmaceutical industry and media told the public in Sweden). LNP has a chemical composition that transports the synthetically modified RNA into cells (LNP is transported to all organs of the body including the brain). In this way, genetic material is physically transferred from the syringe to the body cells.
The third part of the GMO definition – an organism that has been modified by genetic engineering. The genetic engineering part requires the demonstration of a technique for modifying genes or other genetic material.
Pfizer and Moderna admit to modifying genes to create modified RNA (modRNA) for their products. The use of modified nucleosides for modRNA by Pfizer and Moderna was evident when the Covid-19 products were authorised. For example, in the TGA’s Australian approval for Pfizer, the TGA notes:
Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine, BNT162b2 mRNA (trade name Comirnaty), consists of a nucleoside-modified messenger RNA (modRNA) that encodes the viral spike glycoprotein (S) in SARS-CoV-2. Pfizer and Moderna create their modified nucleosides in the lab using recombinant techniques (the genetic sequence).
This also fulfils the genetic engineering part of the legal definition of GMOs. This means that Pfizer’s and Moderna’s COVID-19 products fullfill the Australian legal definitions to be properly called GMOs.
Under the Australian Genetic Engineering Act, anyone ‘handling’ a GMO in Australia must be regulated by a GMO licence. Unlike Astra Zeneca, Pfizer and Moderna failed to apply for GMO licences in Australia.
Handling GMOs in Australia without a GMO licence is a serious offence under section 32 of the Gene Technology Act 2000.
In fact, the head of Australia’s Office of the Gene Technology Regulator, or OGTR, recently admitted to an Australian Senate committee that both Pfizer’s and Moderna’s products are GMOs.
No Australian was told by the OGTR or the TGA that they were requested to receive genetically modified organisms or GMOs when they received a COVID-19 injection.
However, this should not only be a GMO legal issue in Australia. In the UK, GMOs are dealt with under the Environmental Protection Act of 1990 and in particular Section 106 of Part VI. The UK’s legal definitions of what is considered a GMO are almost identical to the legal definitions in Australia.
As in Australia, the UK requires new GMOs to undergo a comprehensive risk assessment.
Even after a comprehensive risk assessment, the UK Secretary of State still has to give his consent before a GMO can be brought into the UK. Both Pfizer and Moderna applied for marketing authorisations under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 which exempted them from having to undergo a GMO risk assessment for their Covid-19 products.
Because of this exemption, neither company had to mention in the product information that their products contain GMOs, even though they fulfil the legal definitions (see attached product information).
It is claimed that Australia, Europe, South Africa and the USA have almost identical legislation on GMOs. Why is it then that modified RNA is not considered a GMO in Sweden? Is there any clear view on the matter?
Text: Elsa Widding, Sunt Förnuft
Related links
- Are the Covid-19 drugs produced by Pfizer and Moderna GMOs or genetically modified organisms?
- FDA hid GMO status of Covid drugs ..
- GMO Proceedings Against Pfizer and Moderna
- The Swedish Medical Products Agency on GMOs
- Glossary: Australian or Australian?
- Elsa Widding in NewsVoice
