Washington, DC
March 23, 2007
In order to comply with a March
12, 2007, preliminary injunction order by the United States
District Court for the Northern District of California, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is informing all
alfalfa growers that Roundup Ready (RR) alfalfa, is once again a
regulated article, and will remain so until the agency issues a
new determination consistent with court requirements.
The court did not overturn federal conclusions regarding the
safety of the crop for food and feed purposes, but rather
concluded that APHIS had not adequately documented potential
environmental impacts. A future decision regarding the
deregulation of RR alfalfa will be issued only after the
completion of an appropriately documented environmental
analysis.
After the court issued its March 12, 2007, order, seed dealers
were notified that seed can no longer be sold. Growers who had
already purchased RR alfalfa seed as of March 12, may plant that
seed before March 30, 2007. Growers who meet these deadlines may
harvest, use and sell their RR alfalfa crop, as may growers who
previously planted RR alfalfa. Any product grown from seed
planted after this deadline will be subject to the full range of
APHIS’ remedial authorities.
APHIS deregulated genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa lines J101
and J163 on June 14, 2005, after a thorough review of the
scientific evidence. APHIS prepared an environmental assessment
(EA) to determine whether deregulating the alfalfa could have a
significant impact on the environment and issued a finding of no
significant impact. APHIS makes a determination of nonregulated
status only when it can conclude that the organism does not pose
a plant pest risk.
RR alfalfa is engineered to be resistant to the herbicide
glyphosate, marketed under the brand name Roundup. RR products
include corn, canola and soybean and have a long history of safe
use.
APHIS regulates the introduction (importation, interstate
movement and environmental release) of GE organisms. APHIS has
been safely regulating GE organisms since 1986 and has overseen
the deregulation of more than 70 GE crop lines.
Notice of this action is published in the March 23 Federal
Register:
Return to
regulated status of alfalfa genetically engineered for tolerance
to the herbicide glyphosate
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