Proposed Revisions to Biotechnology Regulations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing proposed revisions to its biotechnology regulations in a notice that will publish in the Federal Register on January 19, 2017. This would be the first comprehensive revision of the regulations since they were established in 1987. APHIS is proposing a regulatory program in which it first assesses GE organisms to determine if they pose plant pest or noxious weed risks. If APHIS concludes that a GE organism does not pose a plant pest or noxious weed risk, then APHIS would not require a permit for the importation, interstate movement, and environmental release (outdoor use) of the GE organism. On the other hand, if APHIS determines, based on risk analysis that controls on movement are needed, APHIS will work with the requestor to establish appropriate permit conditions to manage identified risks to allow safe movement. By “movement” we mean import, interstate movement, or environmental release (regulated controlled outdoor use such as in field trials). For more information visit the BRS news page at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/biotechnology/brs-news-and-information/ct_news.