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USDA examines biotech approval process

Corn in NW Ohio_052315 (5)_web

The USDA says it wants to streamline its biotech approval process.

Under one of the proposed changes, technology providers would only have to gain approval for each trait, and after deregulation, would be able to extend that approval in “stacks” by simply providing additional information.  It would also allow for expedited approval of traits already approved for use in another crop.

The National Corn Growers Association welcomes the move. John Linder, Ohio farmer and chair of NCGA’s Trade Policy and Biotechnology committee, says the current regulatory process has burdensome delays that cause traits to become hung up in the approval process.  “A big concern for a corn grower in the Midwest is if we need a trait and it is stuck in the approval process you are limited in your ability to manage an issue that that trait addresses,” he says.

 

USDA says it would also likely move to an upfront risk assessment of new technologies from a product-by-product assessment; which would give companies greater freedom to operate following approval.

The agency says it continues to work with all US major trading partners through the process development to maximize potential synchronous approval with global markets.

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