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posted by janrinok on Sunday April 01 2018, @08:13AM   Printer-friendly
from the oh,-that's-not-crispy-plants dept.

Submitted via IRC for AndyTheAbsurd

In a big win for the biotech industry, the US Department of Agriculture says it won’t regulate plants whose genomes have been altered using gene-editing technology.

The official statement quotes the following:

Under its biotechnology regulations, USDA does not regulate or have any plans to regulate plants that could otherwise have been developed through traditional breeding techniques as long as they are not plant pests or developed using plant pests. This includes a set of new techniques that are increasingly being used by plant breeders to produce new plant varieties that are indistinguishable from those developed through traditional breeding methods. The newest of these methods, such as genome editing, expand traditional plant breeding tools because they can introduce new plant traits more quickly and precisely, potentially saving years or even decades in bringing needed new varieties to farmers.

"With this approach, USDA seeks to allow innovation when there is no risk present," said Secretary Perdue. "At the same time, I want to be clear to consumers that we will not be stepping away from our regulatory responsibilities. While these crops do not require regulatory oversight, we do have an important role to play in protecting plant health by evaluating products developed using modern biotechnology. This is a role USDA has played for more than 30 years, and one I will continue to take very seriously, as we work to modernize our technology-focused regulations."

"Plant breeding innovation holds enormous promise for helping protect crops against drought and diseases while increasing nutritional value and eliminating allergens," Perdue said. "Using this science, farmers can continue to meet consumer expectations for healthful, affordable food produced in a manner that consumes fewer natural resources. This new innovation will help farmers do what we aspire to do at USDA: do right and feed everyone."

Source: https://www.technologyreview.com/the-download/610723/crispr-plants-wont-be-regulated/


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 01 2018, @01:28PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 01 2018, @01:28PM (#661136)

    This is what happens when you suckle at the teat of evolution.