U.S. EPA Approves Oxitec Mosquito Pilot Projects in California and Florida
MEDIA ADVISORY
8 March 2022
U.S. EPA Approves Oxitec Mosquito Pilot Projects in California and Florida
The US Environmental Protection Agency has approved pilot projects of Oxitec’s mosquitoes in specific districts in Florida and California.
After this EPA approval, applications will be submitted to state regulators.
The Florida pilot project will be a continuation of Oxitec’s partnership with the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District following a successful pilot project in the Keys in 2021.
The California pilot project is being planned in partnership with the Delta Mosquito and Vector Control District in Tulare County.
Oxitec, the leading developer of biological pest control solutions, is proud to announce the publication by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of its approval to conduct pilot projects of Oxitec’s safe, non-biting, Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in California and Florida. Two pilot projects were approved, one with the Delta Mosquito and Vector Control District (Delta MVCD) in California and one with the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District (FKMCD) in Florida.
This approval is an extension of the Experimental Use Permit (EUP) granted in 2020 by the EPA for a pilot project in the Florida Keys, which was successfully carried out in 2021. Alongside its in-depth scientific evaluation process was a 30-day period for public comments. The EPA reviewed and responded to each public comment before issuing its approval.
Following the EPA’s approval, Oxitec will now submit permit applications to state regulators in California and Florida for their review.
Oxitec’s safe, sustainable and targeted biological pest control technology does not harm beneficial insects like bees and butterflies and is proven to control the disease transmitting Aedes aegypti mosquito, which has invaded communities in Florida, California and other U.S. states. In California, since first being detected in 2013, this mosquito has rapidly spread to more than 20 counties throughout the state, increasing the risk of transmission of dengue, chikungunya, Zika, yellow fever and other diseases.
Grey Frandsen, CEO of Oxitec, said, “Our team is immensely proud to have received yet another milestone approval from the EPA. This expansion of our U.S. efforts reflects the strong partnerships we’ve developed with a large and diverse range of stakeholders at the local, state and national levels. We’re especially thankful to our collaborators and to the communities who have so warmly welcomed us in both Florida and California. Given the growing health threat this mosquito poses across the U.S., we’re working to make this technology available and accessible. These pilot programs, wherein we can demonstrate the technology’s effectiveness in different climate settings, will play an important role in doing so. We look forward to getting to work this year.”
**ENDS**
Oxitec welcomes all media inquiries.
Oxitec Press Office:
+1-202-792-3080
Additional resources:
The U.S. EPA’s approval of and complete risk assessment of the pilot project;
The U.S. EPA’s responses to public comments;
100+ independent peer-reviewed scientific publications on Oxitec technology;
Oxitec’s announcement of pilot results in Brazil;
Oxitec’s resource hub for all things Oxitec and California;
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 public, private and non-profit partners.
Learn more at oxitec.com.