USDA Requires Permits for Industrial Biotech Crops
Date: 06-Aug-03
Country: USA
Author: Randy Fabi
Until now, companies have not been required to get government permission before launching U.S. field tests of gene-spliced plants that are designed to produce industrial components or chemicals.
The change is designed to help protect food crops from accidental contamination, the USDA said. Once a company applies, it will take about four months to issue a permit.
U.S. food industry groups said they supported the new rule, but called for tougher measures to ensure that experimental crops are not mixed with plants grown as food for humans or livestock.
Some companies are experimenting with industrial biotech crops to help manufacture a variety of products including paper, detergent and minerals. These crops are not approved for human or animal food.
The USDA said companies must now obtain a government permit to move, field test or import industrial biotech crops. The department had regulated these crops under a notification process used for plants considered low risk and that had widely known genetic modifications.
The department said companies were beginning to experiment with less familiar biotech traits in these crops.
Meghan Thomas, spokeswoman for USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), said requiring permits would help the USDA keep a closer eye on the experimental crops.
"This interim rule strengthens APHIS regulations for field testing of genetically engineered industrial plants in anticipation of an increase in requests to move, import or field test these types of plants," the USDA said.
The USDA said the rule will be published in the Federal Register on Wednesday and will be effective immediately.
The Biotechnology Industry Organization, which represents companies developing new gene-spliced products, said it welcomed the new rule.
The Grocery Manufacturers of America and the National Food Processors Association said they supported USDA's action, but that it wasn't enough.
"While it's a step in the right direction, the first and absolute main concern of our companies is maintaining the security of our food supply," said Stephanie Childs, spokeswoman for the trade group.
The food groups urged the Bush administration to impose a strict regulatory program that places safeguards throughout the food system.
In March, the USDA imposed tougher rules on planting industrial and pharmaceutical crops after a Texas biotech firm was accused of mishandling its experimental corn and accidentally contaminated other crops. Privately held ProdiGene Inc. last year agreed to pay about $3 million to settle the matter.