Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
SECURE Rule Regulatory Changes
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APHIS’ SECURE rule revises the regulations regarding the importation, interstate movement, and environmental release of certain organisms to account for advances in genetic engineering and in our understanding of the plant pest risks posed by organisms developed using genetic engineering. The SECURE rule differs from the previous regulatory framework by focusing on an organism’s properties and not on the method used to produce it. This approach enables us to regulate organisms developed using genetic engineering for plant pest risk with greater precision than the previous approach. This will reduce regulatory burden for developers of organisms that are unlikely to pose plant pest risks, and continue to provide oversight of organisms developed using genetic engineering that pose a plant pest risk. |
WHAT IS A PLANT PEST? |
Under the SECURE rule, certain categories of modified plants are exempt from the regulations because they could otherwise have been developed through conventional breeding techniques and thus are unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk compared to conventionally bred plants. These exemptions apply only to plants because the long history plant breeding provides us extensive experience in safely managing associated plant pest risks. In addition, plants that have a plant-trait-mechanism of action combination that is the same as in a plant that has been determined by APHIS to be unlikely to pose a plant pest risk and therefore to be not regulated are exempt from the regulations.
Developers can request a confirmation from APHIS that a modified plant qualifies for an exemption and is not subject to the regulations in 7 CFR part 340. On August 17, 2020, the exemptions and confirmation process replaced the preexisting “Am I Regulated?” (AIR) process. Previous AIR responses indicating nonregulated status of organisms are still considered valid exemptions from the new regulation for the particular requestor and specific plant(s).
Learn More About the Confirmation Request Process
View Questions and Answers About ConfirmationsREGULATORY STATUS REVIEW PROCESS
Will be implemented for certain crops on April 5, 2021 and fully implemented on October 1, 2021
Under the previous regulations, APHIS assessed the plant pest risk of each plant transformation event (also sometimes referred to as the individual transformed line, transgenic line, or genetically-engineered (GE) line) separately, even though the inserted genetic material may have been identical or very similar to transformation events already assessed. This has sometimes been referred to as an “event-by-event” approach.
Under the revised regulations, developers have the option of requesting a permit or a regulatory status review of a plant developed using genetic engineering that has not been previously evaluated and determined to be nonregulated. This process replaces the petition process in the previous regulations. The revised regulations evaluate whether a plant requires oversight based on the characteristics of the plant itself and not on the method by which the plant was genetically engineered. Once APHIS determines that the plant is not regulated, subsequent transformation events using the same plant-trait-mechanism of action combination would not be regulated.
Decisions on regulatory status are based on our assessment of plant pest risk. If movement or release of a plant developed using genetic engineering is found to be unlikely to pose a plant pest risk, APHIS would not require regulation under 7 CFR part 340. If we were unable to reach such a finding, APHIS would regulate the plant and it would be allowed to move only under permit.
RSR EVALUTATIONS
RSR evaluates plant pest risk based on
RSR will include one or two steps, depending upon the plant
STEP 1 (APHIS will complete Step 1 in 180 days)
Evaluate the characteristics of the plant developed using genetic engineering relative to an appropriate comparator plant to identify whether a plausible pathway to increased plant pest risk exists and the corresponding factors of concern.
NOTE: A developer can request both a permit and that APHIS complete the second step in the process.
STEP 2 (APHIS will complete its entire evaluation within 15 months)
Evaluate the identified factors of concern involving the plant developed using genetic engineering to determine the likelihood and consequence of the plausible increased plant pest risk.
Learn More About the RSR Process in APHIS Biotechnology Regulations 340.4
Permits are required for the importation, interstate movement, or environmental release of any plant or organism developed using genetic engineering that may post a plant pest risk to plant health. For plants, developers must apply for a permit if the plant does not qualify for an exemption or if the regulatory status review (RSR) process determines that the plant poses a plausible plant pest risk. APHIS will approve or deny an application for an importation or movement permit within 45 days, and an application for a permit for an environmental release in 120 days. Developers may also choose to request a permit rather than request an RSR, or they may elect to obtain a permit and request an RSR. Applicants still apply for a permit using the same methods as before – a paper application, ePermits, or APHIS eFile.
In the previous regulations, APHIS also offered an option for Notifications for certain plants an administratively streamlined alternative to a permit. Under the revised regulations, the notification process has been eliminated and replaced by the RSR and permitting process.
Learn More About the Permitting Process in Aphis Regulations 340.5
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