Petitions and the Regulatory Status Review (RSR) Process Overview

Under the petition process, the petitioner is required to provide information related to plant pest risk. APHIS uses this information, along with other publicly available data and information, as part of its process to determine whether a plant poses a plant pest risk. A plant developed using genetic engineering is no longer subject to APHIS’ regulatory requirements if APHIS determines it is unlikely to pose a plant pest risk. APHIS assesses 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. Developers can continue to use the preexisting petition process until the new regulatory status review (RSR) process is implemented on April 5, 2021 for certain crops, including corn, soybean, cotton, potato, tomato, and alfalfa, and fully implemented on October 1, 2021 for all crops. 

Check the Status of a Petition  

View Guidance and Resources for Petitions

The RSR process will be implemented for certain crops, including corn, soybean, cotton, potato, tomato, and alfalfa on April 5, 2021, and fully implemented for all crops on October 1, 2021. APHIS will continue accepting petitions for corn, soybean, cotton, potato, tomato, and alfalfa until April 4, 2021, and for all other crops until September 30, 2021. 

Under the revised regulations, developers have the option of requesting a permit and/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 preexisting regulations. When a developer requests a regulatory status review, APHIS evaluates whether the plant requires oversight based on the characteristics of the plant itself rather than on the use of a plant pest in its development. If a plant developed using genetic engineering is found to be unlikely to pose a plant pest risk, APHIS will not require regulation under 7 CFR part 340. If APHIS is unable to reach such a finding, it will regulate the plant and it would be allowed to move only under permit. Once APHIS determines that a plant is not regulated, subsequent transformation events using the same plant-trait-mechanism of action combination would not be regulated. 

RSR EVALUTATIONS 

RSR evaluates plant pest risk based on

•  
• the biological properties of the plant; and
• the trait (or new characteristic); and
• the mechanism of action (or how the genetic modification causes the new trait to occur) 

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. 

• •  
• If APHIS does not identify a plausible pathway to increased plant pest risk, the plant is not subject to regulation.
• If APHIS does identify a plausible pathway to increased plant pest risk, the developer may:

• • elect to take no further action   
  • request a permit to move the plant and/or perform field trials
  • request that APHIS complete the second step in the process 

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.

• •  
• Publish the results of the evaluation in the Federal Register
• Solicit and review comments from the public
• If APHIS finds the plant is unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk, the plant is not subject to the regulations
• If APHIS does not make such a finding, the plant will remain regulated 
  
  

Learn More About the RSR Process in APHIS Biotechnology Regulations 340.4 

Contact Us about Submitting a Regulatory Status Review 

View the Draft RSR Guide