Press Releases
Jim Rogers (301) 734-8563
Jerry Redding (202) 720-6959
USDA CREATES NEW BIOTECHNOLOGY UNIT
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2, 2002—The U.S. Department of Agriculture has
created a new unit within the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
called Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS) to focus on USDA's key
role in regulating and facilitating biotechnology.
"USDA has turned a corner in the regulation of biotechnology,"
said Agriculture Under Secretary Bill Hawks. "This new unit will
ensure USDA is at the forefront in developing appropriate regulatory
policies to address today's biotechnology issues and challenges."
The creation of BRS provides APHIS and its cadre of biotechnology
experts with an opportunity to review its leadership position in the
agriculture biotechnology field and speak to its stakeholders with one
voice. The new program will focus on regulation of biotechnology, risk
assessments and permitting. BRS will also work with foreign governments
to help create compatible biotechnology standards and will follow industrial
trends and forecast scientific advancement to better regulate the biotechnology
industry.
This reorganization will also better position USDA to address the
recommendations provided by the National Academy of Sciences in its
February 2002 report "Environmental Effects of Transgenic Plants:
The Scope and Adequacy of Regulation." While the NAS report recognizes
the strengths in APHIS' biotechnology regulatory process, it also provides
recommendations to enhance this system to make it more effective. APHIS'
new biotechnology unit will enable the department to take a more comprehensive
approach to regulating genetically modified organisms such as transgenic
arthropods and transgenic animals.
APHIS will be reassigning 25 staff members to this new unit and focusing
approximately $4 million on the effort.
Previously, APHIS' biotechnology programs were divided between APHIS'
Plant Protection and Quarantine and Veterinary Services programs.
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