Crop Biotech Update

Report Shows Update on USDA's SECURE Rule About Agricultural Biotechnology

August 30, 2023

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) released an updated report on USDA's Sustainable, Ecological, Consistent, Uniform, Responsible, Efficient (SECURE) Rule. There are mixed stakeholder reactions about the final SECURE Rule.

The revisions stated that the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS) Strategic Plan for 2023-2027 indicated that “one of its objectives is to ensure the safe development of agricultural biotechnology products using a science-based regulatory framework, including efficient permit review for genetically engineered (GE) organisms, clear communication of regulations to stakeholders, coordination with other agencies, and harmonization of regulatory oversight for biotechnology products.”

The updated report states that the Congress may monitor how USDA's revised regulatory requirements affect the production and commercialization of GE and gene-edited products. The Congress may also monitor how USDA, EPA, and FDA assess the effectiveness of the updated regulations, as well as how they collaborate on harmonizing the regulation of biotechnology products in the future.

For more information, read the report on CRS.


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