USDA Urged to Start Over on Proposed Rule to Revamp Biotech Regulation

The US government has regulated genetically modified organisms (GMOs) under the "Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology" (Coordinated Framework). In January 2017, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published a proposed rule to revise the Agency's biotechnology regulations.

In comments submitted recently to the USDA, industry stakeholders applauded the Agency's proposed rule, but has also called out a number of proposed revisions as improperly expanding the Agency's review process in certain respects which could effectively hamstring developers before they can even begin testing products.

In a separate set of comments, the National Grain and Feed Association and other organizations representing companies that process and export grain and oilseeds, urged USDA to withdraw the proposed rule on the basis that USDA did not consult with foreign markets and international regulators in preparing the proposed rule to ensure they would approve U.S. crop traits that would be commercialized under the proposed new system.

For more details, read the article at The National Law Review.