ASA Comments on APHIS Proposed Revisions to Biotech Regulations

The American Soybean Association (ASA) has submitted their comments on the proposed revisions to biotech crop regulations to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). APHIS announced in February that it will conduct a programmatic economic impact study as part of a comprehensive study of its Part 340 regulations of biotech crops.

ASA supports the goal of updating regulations to reflect changes in the environment for the development and commercialization of biotechnology products. In their comments, ASA states that any changes to the regulations should be tailored to address specific problems in a clear and transparent manner.

The comments also state that the issue is critically important to U.S. soybean producers, since the US exports over half of its annual soybean production and biotech traits are expressed in over 90 percent of the varieties planted in the country. A sudden or unexpected change in regulatory policy could prevent the introduction of new biotech products in the U.S. since nearly all countries have a zero tolerance for the presence of traits they haven't approved. This would effectively shut down the process for developing and introducing new products.

For more details, read the letter and news release at the ASA website.