Washington, DC
December 12, 2008
The U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) seeks public comment
on a petition to deregulate corn genetically engineered (GE) for
tolerance to glyphosate herbicides and acetolactate
synthase-inhibiting herbicides. APHIS has regulated the corn,
designated as line 98140, through its biotechnology notification
and permitting process since 2005.
The petition for deregulation, submitted by
Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., is in accordance with
APHIS’ regulations concerning the introduction of GE organisms
and products and is available for the public’s review and
comment. As part of the decision-making process, APHIS also has
prepared a draft environmental assessment (EA) for review and
comment.
Following the comment period, APHIS will make a determination of
nonregulated status if it can conclude that the organism does
not pose a plant pest risk. If APHIS grants the Pioneer Hi-Bred
International, Inc., petition for deregulation, the corn and its
progeny would no longer be regulated articles. The product could
then be freely moved and planted without the requirement of
permits or other regulatory oversight by APHIS. The scientific
evidence indicates that there are unlikely to be any
environmental, human health or food safety concerns associated
with the GE corn.
APHIS is responsible for protecting U.S. agriculture and the
environment from animal and plant pests and has overseen the
deregulation of more than 70 GE products. APHIS regulates GE
products in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In addition to
APHIS review, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. has submitted
the appropriate documents to both EPA and FDA to address the
requirements specific to each agency. EPA requires that all
pesticides, including herbicides, be registered prior to
distribution or sale, unless exempt from EPA regulation. Residue
tolerances for pesticides also are established by EPA and FDA
enforces those tolerances. FDA provides a consultation process
to ensure that any human and animal feed safety issues are
resolved prior to commercial distribution of a GE food.
This notice was published in the Dec. 8, 2008, Federal Register.
APHIS is seeking comment on the petition and on the
environmental assessment.
Consideration will be given to comments received on or before
Feb. 6, 2009. Send two copies of postal mail or commercial
delivery comments to Docket No. APHIS-2008-0094, Regulatory
Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700
River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Comments can be
submitted on the Federal eRulemaking portal at
http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2008-0094.
Click on “Add Comments” to view public comments and related
materials available electronically.
Comments are posted on the Reglations.gov Web site and also can
be reviewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, 14th St. and
Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C., between 8 a.m. and
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. To
facilitate entry into the comment reading room, please call
(202) 690-2817. |
|
