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Program Updates

Availability of Preliminary Plant Pest Risk Assessment and Draft Environmental Assessment for Petition to Deregulate Cotton Developed Using Genetic Engineering

Published: Oct 15, 2020

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is inviting public comment on a preliminary plant pest risk assessment (PPRA) and draft environmental assessment (dEA) prepared in response to a petition from the Monsanto Company (Monsanto) seeking deregulation of a cotton variety developed using genetic engineering for resistance to certain insects, primarily those of the Lygus genus. The PPRA and dEA will be available for public review and comment for 30 days.

APHIS is interested in receiving comments regarding potential environmental and interrelated economic impacts to assist in our assessment of the petition as it relates to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The public comments received, along with the best available scientific documents, will assist APHIS in making a determination on the regulatory status of this cotton variety developed using genetic engineering.

The PPRA and dEA can be accessed now on the News page of the BRS website. This notice may be viewed in today’s Federal Register. Beginning tomorrow, members of the public will be able to submit comments through November 16, 2020 at: https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=APHIS-2019-0050.

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.