Von: "NLP Wessex", INTERNET:nlpwessex@bigfoot.com
Tuesday March 7, 2:15 pm Eastern Time
USDA plans to lift regulation of biotech potato
WASHINGTON, March 7 (Reuters) - The U.S. Agriculture Department said it
would accept public comment until April 5 on its proposal to stop regulating
a new genetically modified potato developed by Monsanto Co (NYSE:MTC -
news).
An environmental assessment of the variety indicates it poses no threat to
other crops and does not need to be regulated by the USDA's Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service, the USDA said in a Federal Register notice.
Monsanto sought the unregulated status for a new Russet Burbank potato line
that was genetically engineered to resist the destructive Colorado potato
beetle and potato leaf roll virus. The new variety is similar to a
previously developed potato line which already won USDA approval.
The USDA said it would review public comments received by April 5 on the
proposed deregulation of the potato variety.
Current federal law requires new genetically altered crops to be monitored
by the USDA in field tests until they have been proven safe to be around
other crops. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug
Administration regulate other aspects of biotech crops.