Washington, DC
October 11, 2007
The U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is
seeking public comment on a petition to deregulate soybean line
356043, genetically engineered (GE) for herbicide resistance.
The petition for deregulation, submitted by Pioneer Hi-Bred
International, Inc., is in accordance with APHIS’ regulations
concerning the introduction of GE organisms and products. APHIS
has prepared a draft environmental assessment (EA) to determine
whether deregulating the soybean could have a significant impact
on the environment. After a thorough review of the scientific
evidence, APHIS’ current preferred action is to deregulate the
soybean based on the fact that it does not present a plant-pest
risk.
If APHIS grants the petition for deregulation, the soybean and
its progeny would no longer be regulated articles. The product
could then be freely moved and planted without the requirement
of permits or other regulatory oversight by APHIS.
Soybean line 356043 is engineered to be resistant to the
herbicide glyphosate, marketed under brand names such as
Roundup, Touchdown and Kleenup; and to acetolactate
synthase-inhibiting herbicides, marketed under brand names such
as Pursuit, Glean and Oust. Pioneer has also submitted documents
to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services’ Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) in accordance with their regulations.
APHIS oversees the development and introduction (importation,
interstate movement and environmental release) of GE organisms.
APHIS regulates GE products in cooperation with FDA and EPA.
Products are regulated according to their intended use, with
some products regulated under more than one agency.
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 was published in the Oct. 5 Federal
Register.
APHIS is seeking comments on the petition and invites comments
on the EA. Consideration will be given to comments received on
or before Dec. 4. Send an original and three copies of postal
mail or commercial delivery comments to Docket No.
APHIS-2007-0019, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD,
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale,
Md. 20737-1238. If you wish to submit a comment using the
Internet, go to the Federal eRulemaking portal at
http://www.regulations.gov,
select “Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service” from the
agency drop-down menu; then click on “Submit.” In the Docket ID
column, select APHIS-2007-0019 to submit or view public comments
and to view supporting and related materials available
electronically.
Comments are posted on the Regulations.gov Web site and may also
be viewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, 14th St. and
Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C., between 8 a.m. and
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Please
call (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into the comment reading
room. |
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