WASHINGTON, DC – On Tuesday, before the change in administration, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announcing the deregulation of a cotton variety, designated as MON 88702, developed by Monsanto using genetic engineering for resistance to certain insects, primarily tarnished plant bugs (Lygus species).
As part of the petition process, APHIS prepared a draft plant pest risk assessment and draft environmental assessment (EA), and made these documents available for a 30-day public review and comment period on October 16, 2020.
APHIS concluded in its final determination that the MON 88702 cotton variety is unlikely to pose a plant pest risk to agricultural crops or other plants in the United States and is deregulating it effective January 19, 2021.
It is unclear as to whether the variety is in fact deregulated.
On President Biden’s first day in office (Wednesday), the White House issued a memo directing “executive departments and agencies” to freeze any pending regulations not yet published in the Federal Register.
These regulations must be approved by a department or agency head designated by the new president.
Also on Tuesday, APHIS announced the deregulation of petunia varieties, designated as A1-DFR, developed using genetic engineering to produce orange flowers.
(SOURCE: All Ag News)