Alexandria, Virginia
September 21, 2007
The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) welcomed the
announcement by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) that it is developing a
voluntary, audit-based compliance assistance program known as
the
Biotechnology Quality Management System (BQMS).
“Innovative tools such as biotechnology are key to the continued
ability of the U.S. seed industry to provide farmers and
consumers with higher yielding, better quality and value-added
products, and APHIS has been part of the robust U.S. regulatory
system that oversees their safe development and use,” said ASTA
President and CEO Andrew W. (Andy) LaVigne. “The Biotechnology
Quality Management System should provide another means to
complement the existing industry practices that continue to
maintain the high standards of product integrity in the seed
industry.”
The ASTA Executive expressed the interest of the seed industry
in continuing to work closely with APHIS in developing robust
systems so that producers and consumers can continue to benefit
from the agricultural products produced through biotechnology.
Founded in 1883, the American
Seed Trade Association (ASTA), located in Alexandria, Virginia.,
is one of the oldest trade organizations in the United States.
Its membership consists of about 900 companies involved in seed
production and distribution, plant breeding, and related
industries in North America. As an authority on plant germplasm,
ASTA advocates science and policy issues of industry importance.
Its mission is to enhance the development and free movement of
quality seed worldwide.
RELATED RELEASE
Acting U.S. Agriculture Secretary announces
plan to improve quality compliance of genetically engineered
products |
|
