US EPA implements temporary exemption for Monsanto Bt cotton toxin

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced temporary exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of the Bacillus thuringiensis mCry51Aa2 protein in or on the food and feed commodities of cotton; cotton undelinted seed; cotton, gin byproducts; cotton, forage; cotton, hay; cotton, hulls; cotton, meal; and cotton, refined oil, when used as a plant-incorporated protectant (PIP) in accordance with the terms of Experimental Use Permit (EUP) No. 524-108. This regulation has been implemented in response to the petition of Monsanto for temporary tolerance exemption to eliminate the need to implement a maximum permissible level for residues of the Bt protein. The regulation is in place from April 18, 2017 to February 28, 2019.

Read the announcement in the U.S. Federal Register.