Biotech Updates

USDA Proposes Revisions on GE Crop Regulations

January 25, 2017

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) released for pre-publication a recommendation to revise the regulations of genetically engineered organisms. According to APHIS, this will be the first extensive amendment of the regulations which were implemented since 1987.

"We're pleased that USDA's proposal recognizes that some applications of gene editing result in plant varieties that are essentially equivalent to varieties developed through more traditional breeding methods, and treats these varieties accordingly," said Andy LaVigne, President and CEO of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA). "While we're still reviewing the proposal in detail, this approach will help ensure that U.S. agriculture remains at the forefront of innovation and maintains its leadership role globally," he added.

Together with the proposal, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced their intention to gather comments on new plant varieties developed through gene editing.

For more details, read the news release from ASTA.