White House to Review Rules for GM Crops, Seeks Public Comments

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has ordered a review of the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology. The Framework, issued in 1986 and updated in 1992, outlined a comprehensive Federal regulatory policy for ensuring the safety of biotechnology products.

In a White House blog post co-written by John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, it states that while the current regulatory system for biotechnology products effectively protects health and the environment, advances in science and technology since 1992 have been altering the product landscape. The complexity of the array of regulations and guidance documents developed by the three Federal agencies with jurisdiction over biotechnology products can make it difficult for the public to understand how the safety of biotechnology products is evaluated, the blog post said.

The review aims to ensure public confidence in the regulatory system and improve transparency, predictability, coordination, and, ultimately, the efficiency of the biotechnology regulatory system. As part of the review, the Administration will hold three public engagement sessions over the year in different regions of the country, with the first listening session to be held in Washington, DC in the fall of 2015. The update to the Coordinated Framework will undergo public notice and comment before it is finalized.

For more information and details, read the White House blog post.