USDA Seeks Comments on New Biotech Rules

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced its intent to revise existing regulations regarding the importation, interstate movement and environmental release of certain genetically modified organisms. The proposed revisions to the regulations are in response to emerging trends in biotechnology, APHIS says in a press release.

One of the proposed changes would involve aligning the regulations with the plant pest and noxious weed provisions of the Plant Protection Act of 2000 so that certain GE organisms would be subject to the regulations if they could pose a plant pest or noxious weed risk, or their plant pest or noxious weed risk is unknown. APHIS also proposes to discontinue the notification procedure but retain the permitting procedure for authorizing the importation, interstate movement or environment release of those GMOs that fall within the scope of the regulations. The Agency is seeking public comment on the proposed changes.

“This is the most comprehensive review and revision of our biotechnology regulations since they were first developed in 1987,” said Cindy Smith, administrator of APHIS. “Revising these regulations now will allow us to ensure effective oversight for years to come.”

The proposed rule is available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/.  For more information, read the press release at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content/2008/10/brs340.shtml