October 17, 2007
Source:
http://epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides/pips/starlink_corn_monitoring.htm
Current as of October 17, 2007
EPA is seeking public comment on a draft White Paper that recommends withdrawal of FDA’s guidance to test for StarLink™ in corn. Testing of yellow corn started in 2000 following the detection of illegal residues of StarLink™ in the food supply. Since StarLink™ corn has not been planted since 2000, levels have steadily decreased to where new detections are virtually non-existent. Over 99.99% of more than 412 million bushels of corn tested negative in 2006.
After a thorough analysis, EPA has concluded that potential exposure of the U.S. population to the Cry9C protein in StarLink™ corn in the current U.S. food supply is extremely low, and continued testing of corn grain by grain handlers and millers for the presence of Cry9C provides no additional human health protection. EPA’s analysis supports the FDA proposal to withdraw its recommendation that dry milling facilities and masa operations test yellow corn shipments for the presence of StarLink-derived Cry9C.
Background
In 1998 EPA registered StarLink™ for commercial use, provided that all grain derived from StarLink™ corn was directed to domestic animal feed or to industrial uses, such as biofuels. EPA accepted the registrant’s voluntary cancellation request for StarLink™ after it was discovered in the human food supply in 2000. The Food and Drug Administration has recommended testing for the Cry9C protein since September 2000, when residues from StarLink™ were detected in taco shells. EPA’s draft White Paper evaluates the data available today, which includes the results of more than 4 million tests on 4 billion bushels of corn. The data indicates that there has not been a verified positive test of yellow corn for dry milling in the marketplace for at least 3 years.
How to Comment
Comments will be accepted for 45 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register. All comments should be identified by docket ID number EPA–HQ–OPP–2007–0832
Publicly available docket materials are available either in the electronic docket, Regulations.gov or, if only available in hard copy, at the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) Regulatory Public Docket (see contact information below).
Comments may be submitted by one of the following methods:
- Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments found in the electronic docket, regulations.gov
- Mail: Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) Regulatory Public Docket (7502P), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460–0001; or
- Hand delivery: OPP Regulatory Public Docket (7502P), Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. S–4400, One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 2777 S. Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA. (See Visiting the Office of Pesticide Programs) Deliveries are only accepted during the Docket’s normal hours of operation (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays). Special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. The Docket Facility telephone number is (703) 305–5805.
For further information contact Mike Mendelsohn, (mendelsohn.mike@epa.gov), at 703-308-8715.