USDA advancing biotech regulation changes

Date:06-07-2019

 The Trump administration is trying to do what the George W. Bush and Obama administrations couldn't: Update and streamline USDA's 32-year-old process for genetically engineered crops.

 The latest proposal from USDA - and the third since 2008 - would exempt from regulation traits that could be created through traditional breeding, and companies would be allowed to make self-self-determinations about their regulatory status.

 The 109-page proposed rule is being published in the Federal Register today, kicking off a 60-day comment period.

The National Sorghum Producers was quick to welcome the proposal. Dan Atkisson, the group's chairman, says that streamlining the regs will make it more likely that companies get new sorghum traits on the market. "Innovations through new breeding methods are vital to sorghum growers achieving improved production, meeting sustainability goals and maintaining our competitiveness in the global marketplace," he said.