USDA announces deregulation of Nuseed Americas’ GM canola with altered oil profile

On August 24, 2018, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced the deregulation of Nuseed Americas’ canola variety genetically engineered (GE) to contain in its seed increased levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is an omega-3 fatty acid.

As part of the petition process, APHIS prepared a draft plant pest risk assessment (PRA) and a draft environmental assessment (EA). APHIS made these documents available for a 30-day public review and comment period on June 26, 2018. After considering the public comments, APHIS has determined it is unlikely to pose a plant pest risk and is deregulating this variety of GE canola.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), APHIS conducted a thorough review of the potential environmental impacts and prepared a final EA. APHIS concluded in its final PRA that this variety of GE canola is unlikely to pose a plant pest risk to agricultural crops or other plants in the United States.

The effective date of deregulation will be the date of publication in the Federal Register, August 27, 2018.

View the Final Environmental Assessment

View the Final Plant Pest Risk Assessment

View the Finding of No Significant Impact

View the Determintation of Nonregulated Status