Washington, DC
May 22, 2007
New forward-looking policy
statement encourages industry members to minimize the potential
for trade disruptions from agricultural biotechnology products
The Biotechnology Industry
Organization (BIO) today announced a new forward-looking
policy statement that will encourage BIO’s Food and Agriculture
members to help facilitate the flow of goods in commerce and
minimize the potential for trade disruptions with respect to
products of agricultural biotechnology. The Product Launch
Stewardship Policy addresses the issue of asynchronous
authorizations — where different countries may approve,
deregulate or authorize biotech crop varieties at different
times. Such variance in regulatory authorizations among trading
partners can potentially disrupt trade and commerce of grain
products.
Under the new policy, BIO is encouraging its members in its Food
and Agriculture Section to seek the appropriate regulatory
authorizations from major countries — including the United
States, Canada, and Japan — prior to commercializing a new
biotech-derived crop.
“Approval of the Product Launch Stewardship Policy is a
significant forward-looking action by BIO’s Food and Agriculture
Section Governing Body,” said Jim Greenwood, president and chief
executive officer of BIO. “It demonstrates that BIO is committed
to doing our part to promote the continued safety and trust in
the world’s food supply, and to help support smooth trade
transactions in the international grain community.”
The Product Launch Stewardship Policy is an extension of
domestic and international efforts to develop and advocate for
an adventitious presence (AP) policy. Over the last several
years, BIO and its members have continually urged U.S.
regulatory agencies to implement a science-based policy that
governs incidental or trace amounts — or so-called adventitious
presence — of biotechnology-enhanced events in raw and processed
grains and oilseeds, as well as food and feed. While
adventitious presence is a natural part of plant biology, seed
production, and the distribution of commodity crops, a
science-based policy would support continued food safety for
consumers, farmers, food processors, and grain handlers. In
2006, both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced their policies
on adventitious presence; in March 2007, the U.S. Department of
Agriculture published its interim policy on adventitious
presence. Additionally, Codex Alimentarius, the international
food standards-setting body, has begun work to develop an
international food safety standard for adventitious presence.
“The Food and Agriculture Section Governing Body felt that it
needed to approve a prospective policy statement that
demonstrates strong support for the international trade system
and its improvement,” said Andrew Baum, president of SemBioSys,
Inc., Chair of the Food and Agriculture Section Governing Body,
and Vice Chair and Secretary of BIO’s Board of Directors. “We
believe the approval of this Product Launch Stewardship Policy
demonstrates our understanding of the concerns grain handlers,
exporters, and foreign governments may have about new
biotech-derived crops, and it illustrates our organization’s
continued commitment to promoting good product stewardship and
responsible use of this technology.”
In addition to encouraging authorizations in the United States,
Canada, and Japan prior to commercialization, the Product Launch
Stewardship Policy also encourages companies to consult with
grain handlers and others in the value chain, follow best seed
quality practices, as well as develop detection methods for
growers, grain producers, processors, and buyers. Finally, it
encourages BIO members to promptly communicate broadly and in a
transparent manner with stakeholders their company-specific
product launch stewardship policies and their implementation.
Founded in 1993, BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology
companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers
and related organizations across the United States and 31 other
nations. BIO members are involved in the research and
development of health-care, agricultural, industrial and
environmental biotechnology products. BIO produces the BIO
International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the
biotechnology industry. |
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