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APHIS Shares SECURE Confirmation Process Guidance and Announces Webinars

Published: Aug 17, 2020
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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 provided answers to frequently asked questions. 

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 our meetings web page.

Under the SECURE rule, plants may be designated as exempt from regulation if they fall under one of three categories:

  • plants with certain modifications that could otherwise have been achieved through conventional breeding;
  • plants with crop/trait combinations that were previously reviewed and which are unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk; and
  • specific plants determined to not be regulated by APHIS pursuant to its “Am I Regulated?” 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. 

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