APHIS Issues Regulatory Status Review Responses

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently reviewed the following plants modified using genetic engineering to determine whether they posed an increased plant pest risk as relative to non-modified comparators: 

  • Yield10 Bioscience, two camelinas modified for improved seed oil quality.
  • Bayer Crop Science, canola modified for herbicide resistance.
  • Nuseed, canola and brown mustard modified for improved product quality and herbicide resistance.
  • Hjelle Advisors, soybean modified for altered product quality.
  • Michigan State University, potato modified for fungal resistance (potato late blight).
  • University of Wisconsin, hemp modified for reduced levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). 

APHIS found these modified plants were unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk compared to other cultivated plants. As a result, they are not subject to regulation under 7 CFR part 340. From a plant pest risk perspective, these modified plants may be safely grown and bred in the United States. 

You can view these RSR requests and APHIS’ responses on the APHIS website.