ARA Filed Group Comments to APHIS on Proposal Impacting Biotechnology
Aug 19 2021
ARA and other biotechnology stakeholder groups sent comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) regarding the proposal to “Exempt Plants with Additional Modifications Produced Using Genetic Engineering That are Otherwise Achievable by Conventional Breeding.”
ARA and the undersigned organizations applaud APHIS for engaging with stakeholders throughout the regulatory update process and for offering these proposed exemptions from the current regulatory framework.
"While we appreciate the general direction of the proposed exemptions, we believe that the scope should be broadened to improve grower access to additional technologies," the comments state.
"Specifically, the proposal does not adequately address concerns related to the status of gene-edited polyploid crops for which a case-by-case regulatory status review is currently the only option. Broadening the proposed exemptions will allow American agriculture to maintain its position as a world leader on plant breeding issues, reach climate resiliency, and improve food security."
Read more in the comments linked below.