Washington, DC
June 17, 2008
WASHINGTON, June 17, 2008--
The U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
is seeking public comment on a petition to deregulate cotton
line GHB614, which is genetically engineered (GE) for tolerance
to the herbicide glyphosate.
The petition for deregulation, submitted by Bayer CropScience
(BCS), is in accordance with APHIS’ regulations concerning the
introduction of GE organisms and products. APHIS has prepared a
draft environmental assessment (EA) to determine whether
deregulating the cotton could have a significant impact on the
environment. After a thorough review of the scientific evidence,
APHIS’ current preferred action is to deregulate the cotton
based on the fact that it does not present a plant-pest risk.
If APHIS grants the petition for deregulation, the cotton and
its progeny would no longer be regulated articles. The product
could then be moved freely and planted without the requirement
of permits or other regulatory oversight by APHIS.
GHB614 is also subject to regulation by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA). BCS has
submitted the appropriate documents to both EPA and FDA to
address those agencies’ regulations.
APHIS oversees the development and introduction (importation,
interstate movement and environmental release) of GE organisms.
APHIS regulates GE products in cooperation with FDA and EPA.
Products are regulated according to their intended use, with
some products regulated under more than one agency.
APHIS has been safely regulating GE organisms since 1986 and has
overseen the deregulation of more than 70 GE crop lines.
This action is scheduled for publication in the June 18 Federal
Register.
Consideration will be given to comments received on or before
Aug. 18. Send two copies of postal mail or commercial delivery
comments to Docket No. APHIS-2007-0017 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-2007-0017.
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. |
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