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NPPC wants USDA involved in the regulation of livestock gene editing

The pork industry wants the USDA to be involved in regulating gene editing of livestock.

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) says FDA’s proposal to regulate gene edited animals the same as it does animal drugs is going to result in a lengthy and expensive approval process. NPPC legal counsel Andrew Bailey tells Brownfield USDA would be a much better fit.

“USDA already regulates GMO and gene edited plants. They’re very progressive on that front,” Bailey says. “We feel the Department of Agriculture’s and Secretary of Agriculture’s authority already covers most of the applications that we see for gene editing in livestock—particularly in pigs.”

USDA Undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs Greg Ibach tells Brownfield USDA is open to partnering with FDA on gene editing, like what they’ve done on cell-cultured meat.

“There might be an opportunity for some kind of a split responsibility, to work together, so that we can bring new technology to the marketplace faster, we can maintain competitive advantage and deliver on consumer expectations,” Ibach says.

NPPC recently launched “Keep America First in Agriculture,” a campaign “to highlight the importance of establishing a proper regulatory framework for gene editing in American livestock”.

Bailey and Ibach spoke Tuesday at the 2019 BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and AgTech taking place in Des Moines.