USDA APHIS Deregulates GE Corn with Enhanced Yield and Herbicide Tolerance Traits

The U.S Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced the deregulation of the corn variety DP202216 developed by Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. (Pioneer) using genetic engineering for enhanced yield potential and resistance to glufosinate-ammonium herbicides.

The Notice in the Federal Register states that APHIS is advising the public that the genetically engineered corn variety DP202216 is no longer considered regulated under their regulations governing the introduction of certain genetically engineered organisms. This determination is based on their evaluation of information that Pioneer submitted in its petition for a determination of nonregulated status, APHIS analyses, and public comments received in response to previous notices announcing the availability of the petition for nonregulated status and associated environmental assessment and plant pest risk assessment. The change in status has been recognized on December 21, 2020.

APHIS concluded in its final plant pest risk assessment that the DP202216 corn variety is unlikely to pose a plant pest risk to agricultural crops or other plants in the United States and is deregulating it effective the date of publication of the Federal Register notice.

For more details, read the news article on the APHIS website and the Notice in the Federal Register.