Washington, DC, USA
December 4, 2015
Petition to Deregulate Monsanto Company's GE Increased Ear Biomass Corn
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing its decision to deregulate the Monsanto Company’s corn genetically engineered (GE) for increased ear biomass. This notice also announces the availability of our written determination and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
APHIS is taking this action based on a final plant pest risk assessment (PPRA) that finds this GE corn is unlikely to pose a plant pest risk to agriculture and other plants in the United States. APHIS also completed an environmental assessment (EA) to comply with NEPA that finds deregulation is not likely to have a significant impact on the human environment.
Under APHIS’ regulations, in accordance with the Plant Protection Act (PPA), APHIS is specifically required to evaluate if this corn variety is a plant pest risk to agricultural crops or other plants or plant products. The Act defines a plant pest as organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, or insects that can cause harm to agricultural crops or other plants or plant products. If APHIS finds through its rigorous scientific review that a new GE plant is unlikely to pose a plant pest risk, then under its regulations, it deregulates the GE plant.
Notice of this determination will be published in the Federal Register on December 8, 2015, and is the effective date of this action.
Final Documents
Federal Register Notice of Determination
Final Environmental Assessment (EA)
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
Final Plant Pest Risk Assessment
Determination of Nonregulated Status
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) made available for a 30-day public comment period from July 21, 2015, to August 20, 2015, a draft environmental assessment (EA) and preliminary plant pest risk assessment (PPRA) following a petition received from the Monsanto Company. The petition seeks deregulation for Monsanto’s corn genetically engineered for increased ear biomass (see below for more information on the petition.)
To review supporting documents and public comments received, please use see: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-0097.
Federal Register Notice of Draft EA and PPRA
Draft EA
Preliminary PPRA
Petition
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced in the Federal Register (FR) the availability of a petition from the Monsanto Company (Monsanto) seeking to deregulate corn genetically engineered for increased ear biomass. The petition was available for a 60-day public review and comment period from January 20, 2015, to March 23, 2015.
Federal Register Notice of Petition Availability
Petition No. 14-213-01p
Topics
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