USDA APHIS Releases Regulatory Status Review Responses to CoverCress, GCMBNA, Moolec, and MSU

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) releases regulatory status review responses to four genetically modified (GM) plants. The plants included in the review are the following:

• Pennycress with lower erucic acid, fiber, and glucosinolate in seeds and reduced seed shatter developed by CoverCress Inc.
• Clementine with increased lycopene in the fruit and antibiotic resistance developed by GCMBNA Ruby Genetics Inc.
• Garden pea with meat protein in seeds developed by Moolec Science
• Potato with increased drought tolerance developed by Michigan State University

APHIS determined that these modified plants are unlikely to present increased plant pest risk compared to other cultivated plants. While these plants will not go through regulation under 7 CFR part 340, they may still be subject to APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) permit and/or quarantine requirements. According to APHIS, these modified plants may be safely grown and bred in the US.

For more information, read the article from APHIS.