Biotech Updates

USDA Deregulates GM Corn with Insect Resistance

April 23, 2010

After deliberate investigation and evaluation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) finally deregulated the introduction of a genetically-modified (GM) corn line of Syngenta Biotechnology, Inc.

Syngenta filed their petition on September 2007 to deregulate the release of the Bt corn line with resistance to insect pest. It passed through meticulous environmental assessment and plant pest risk assessment which have been released for public comment starting January 13 to March 15, 2010. APHIS addressed the 35 comments they received from the public, and finally found no substantial evidences that the corn line is harmful to the environment based on the National Environmental Policy Act.

More details of this news are available at  http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content/2010/04/ge_corn_resist_insects.shtml.