June 18, 2020
Dear BRS Stakeholder,
As part of its ongoing efforts to implement the new Sustainable, Ecological, Consistent, Uniform, Responsible, Efficient (SECURE) biotechnology regulations, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is making available guidance and hosting webinars to assist developers with submitting requests to confirm that plants meet established criteria for regulatory exemption.
Beginning on August, 17, 2020, developers will be able to start submitting confirmation requests. To help stakeholders prepare prior to the implementation date, APHIS has updated its Confidential Business Information (CBI) guidance and posted frequently asked questions to the APHIS SECURE webpage.
In addition, APHIS is hosting two technical webinars to review the confirmation of exemption process and give stakeholders the opportunity to ask questions. The webinars will be held on June 24, 2020, and August 5, 2020; from 1pm-2:30pm EDT on both days.
Registration for the June 24 and August 5 webinars is available on the APHIS website.
Under the SECURE rule, plants may be designated as exempt from regulation if they fall under one of three categories:
We hope you find these new resources helpful in understanding the exemptions and the confirmation process. If you have questions, we recommend discussing your request for confirmation of an exemption with APHIS prior to your first submission. You may request a discussion by sending a message to APHIS at ConfirmationRequests@usda.gov.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.