Biotech Updates

USDA APHIS Extends Comment Period for Nonregulated Status GM Canola

May 17, 2017

The United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) is extending the comment period for their previous notice to the public. Hence, APHIS have reached a preliminary decision to extend the determination of nonregulated status of InVigor® MS8 canola (hereinafter MS8 canola) to Bayer's canola event MS11 in response to a request from Bayer CropScience LP.

The comment period for the notice published on April 12, 2017 (82 FR 17625) is extended, and all comments will be considered on or before May 30, 2017.

MS11 canola is genetically engineered for male sterility and resistance to the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium using the same mechanism of action as MS8 canola. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments on the draft environmental assessment, preliminary regulatory determination, preliminary finding of no significant impact, and plant pest risk similarity assessment for the proposed determination of nonregulated status.

For more details, go to the USDA APHIS BRS Federal Register Notices. The Federal notice is available here.