USDA APHIS acknowledges new court ruling vacating updates to biotechnology regulations

Date:12-06-2024

Effective at 6:18pm Eastern Standard Time on December 2, 2024, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, prospectively vacated the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) final rule (7 CFR part 340) issued in May 2020 for organisms developed using genetic engineering. 

Regulatory Status Review responses, Confirmation Request responses, and active permits that USDA issued prior to December 2, 2024, remain valid.  

APHIS is determining next steps and will provide guidance to stakeholders in the coming days, including on the status of the notice, Movement of Organisms Modified or Produced Through Genetic Engineering; Notice of Additional Modifications Exempt Plants Can Contain, 89 Fed. Reg. 89569 (Nov. 13, 2024).