USDA APHIS finds that 12 different plants submitted for review are not subject to its biotechnology regulations

Date:11-15-2023

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently reviewed 12 plants modified using genetic engineering to determine whether they posed an increased plant pest risk as relative to non-modified comparators: 

• Bayer Crop Science, modified soybean for herbicide resistance (glufosinate, dicamba, dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), and mesotrione).

• Bioheuris, Inc., modified soybean for herbicide resistance (auxin and 2,4-D) 

• CoverCress, Inc., modified pennycress for reduced levels of erucic acid and reduced fiber in the seed.

• Inari Agriculture, Inc., modified corn for altered plant architecture

• Insignum AgTech, modified corn to induce a rapid response to fungal infection.

• Mazen Animal Health, Inc., modified corn for altered enzyme levels and herbicide resistance (glufosinate).

• Pairwise Plants Services, Inc., modified brown mustard for altered pungency to improve flavor and altered outgrowth/texture to reduce appendage development on leaves and stems. 

• Tropic Biosciences, modified banana for altered fruit quality, non-browning.

• Yield 10 Bioscience, Inc., modified four camelina plants for herbicide resistance; one for resistance to glufosinate; and three for resistance to glufosinate, imidazolinone and sulfonylurea. 

APHIS found these modified plants were unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk compared to other cultivated plants. As a result, they are not subject to regulation under 7 CFR part 340. From a plant pest risk perspective, these modified plants may be safely grown and bred in the United States. 

View the Regulatory Status Review (RSR) table 

View the Plant Trait Mechanism of Action (PT-MOA) table