By KEVIN WALKER
Michigan Correspondent
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. — An agency within the USDA is proposing the most sweeping changes to its regulatory scheme overseeing genetically engineered (GE) organisms since the regulations were established in 1987.

“This is looking much broader, and it’s looking at many changes at the same time,” said Rachel Iadicicco, a spokeswoman for the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

Under the proposed changes, APHIS would regulate certain GE plants as well as certain GE non-plant, non-vertebrate organisms that might damage plants. The new regulations would also align with plant pest and noxious weed provisions of the Plant Protection Act of 2000.

Among other proposed changes, the new rules would eliminate the notification procedure with a new permit system that would categorize any given GE organism based on an agency assessment of the risk it poses to the environment.

“Eliminating the notification procedure is going to give us more leeway to set risk appropriate conditions,” Iadicicco said.
Andy Lavigne is CEO of the American Seed Trade Assoc. (ASTA), a group that represents seed companies. He said the proposed changes are “an evolution from where it is today. I would say it is better. It’s streamlined to go faster.”

According to Lavigne, if researchers were able to find a GE product that would be resistant to UG-99 – an exotic pest that could threaten wheat crops – it would be subject to a great deal more scrutiny and review under the proposed rules.

APHIS is seeking public comment on these proposed rules. As of last Friday there were about 22 comments posted on the website for this issue. Typical of these is a comment from Susan Macias of Long Beach, Calif:

“I am completely opposed to the manufacture and distribution of genetically modified organisms. They have absolutely no nutritional benefit to the consumers, and they possess very possible risks. They have already escaped and contaminated valuable crops such as papaya in Hawaii and corn in Mexico.

Chemical and biotech corporations should not be allowed to continue endangering the agricultural wealth of this country.”
Any public comments must be posted on the website by Nov. 24, before noon. To post a comment, go to www.regulations.gov and enter the following: aphis-2008-0023.

This page will display a list of public comments already posted, as well as all of the supporting and related materials, including a copy of the proposed rules. The public comments are posted first, followed by the materials that APHIS has posted. To respond to the proposed rules, documents or public comment, click on the yellow bubble that is displayed next to the document or comment title line.