US green light for GM alfalfa

The draft EIS has now been published for public comment.

It recommends that Roundup Ready alfalfa be deregulated again.

On April 16, 2004, USDAs Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) received a petition from Monsanto Co. and Forage Genetics International requesting a determination of non-regulated status for the two alfalfa lines designated as J101 and J163, which have been genetically modified for tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate.

APHIS evaluated the plant pest risks posed by the use of the J101 and J163 lines and prepared an environmental assessment to identify and gauge any environmental impacts that would result from approving the deregulation petition.

The nearly 1500-page draft EIS document outlines that, based on the USDA analysis and conclusions, glyphosate-tolerant biotech alfalfa lines J101 and J163 are "unlikely to pose plant pest risks".

Additionally, APHIS preliminarily concluded in the draft EIS that granting non-regulated status to J101 and J163 "will not result in significant impacts to the human environment".

Monsanto manager of public affairs Garrett Kasper said the company is encouraged by Roundup Ready alfalfa being recommended for deregulation again.

However, Kasper added it was "truly important that USDA receive letters of support from growers and other members of the US agricultural community who know the benefits of crops developed using biotechnology or want to take advantage of them in their farming operation".

Monsanto filed a petition with the US Supreme Court in October 2009 arguing that the 2007 injunction by should not have been ordered without first holding an evidentiary hearing.

As a result, the ban imposed unnecessary restrictions and costs on alfalfa hay and seed growers.

Monsanto and Forage Genetics petitioned the appellate court twice between 2007 and 2008 to fully consider the scientific evidence and tailor any relief ordered pending the governmental agency completion of an EIS.

Roundup Ready alfalfa was reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and was also approved by the USDA before it first went on the market in 2005.

Prior to the injunction, Roundup Ready alfalfa was planted by approximately 5500 growers across 263,000 acres.

Although alfalfa is the fourth-largest crop grown in the US with 23 million acres grown in 48 US states annually, only about 1pc is currently Roundup Ready.