Biotech Updates

Changes in US Federal Register to Solicit Public Comments on GMOs

March 9, 2012

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection (APHIS) announced the changes in the solicitation of public comment when considering petitions for determinations on non-regulated status for genetically engineered organisms. With the new process, the agency will publish two separate notices in the Federal Register for petitions for which APHIS prepares an environmental assessment. The first notice will announce the availability of the petition, and the second notice will announce the availability of APHIS' decision-making documents. This change will provide two opportunities for public involvement in the decision-making process.

See the new guideline at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-03-06/pdf/2012-5364.pdf