USDA Seeks Comment on Probe of Biotech Alfalfa Hay
Date: 09-Jan-08
Country: US
Alfalfa, a perennial livestock fodder crop, is one of the most widely grown crops in the United States. Last year, a federal judge found USDA acted illegally when it allowed unrestricted commercial planting of Monsanto Co's "Roundup Ready" biotech alfalfa without fully analyzing the environmental impact.
US District Court Judge Charles Breyer of the Northern District of California also ordered a ban against planting more of the alfalfa, genetically altered to tolerate treatments of Monsanto's Roundup herbicide, until government studies on its environmental effects are concluded.
USDA'S Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has identified 18 issues to be reviewed in the environmental impact statement, including impacts on food and feed, US trade and endangered species. The public has until March 7 to submit comments.
USDA said a decision on whether to deregulate alfalfa will be made after the environmental impact statement has been completed.
The Roundup Ready alfalfa genetic trait was developed by Monsanto and licensed to Forage Genetics International, which produces and markets the seeds.
(Reporting by Christopher Doering; Editing by David Gregorio)
