Biotech Updates

APHIS Seeks Comments on Assessment of GE Apples

November 13, 2013

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced at the Federal Register that the public comment on the plant pest risk assessment (PPRA) and draft environmental assessment (EA) of genetically engineered apples that resist browning (events GD743 and GS784) is now open until 9 December 2013. APHIS received a petition from Okanagan Specialty Fruits, Inc., (Okanagan) of British Columbia, Canada, seeking a determination of nonregulated status of the apples. After reviewing and evaluating the comments on the draft EA and PPRA and other information, APHIS will revise the PPRA as necessary and prepare a final EA. Based on the final EA, APHIS will prepare a National Environmental Policy Act decision document.

Comments may be submitted at http://www.regulations.gov/#!home. For more information, visit https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2013/11/08/2013-26792/okanagan-specialty-fruits-inc-availability-of-plant-pest-risk-assessment-and-environmental.