What action is EPA taking on plant-incorporated protectants?
EPA has issued three final rules clarifying and formalizing EPA's framework for federal oversight of plant-incorporated protectants. Under the final rules, most mechanisms of plant-incorporated protectants derived from genetic engineering will be subject to FIFRA and FFDCA requirements. This needs EPA to make sure that genetically engineered plant-incorporated protectants meet federal safety standards by subjecting them to a rigorous registration process. EPA must also set a food tolerance for residues of the plant-incorporated protectant (or verify on a case-by-case basis to exempt it from the food tolerance needs) before it can be marketed.
In our thorough scientific review of plant-incorporated protectants, the Agency has verified that plant- incorporated protectants developed by conventional breeding pose little or no health or environmental risks. Therefore, plant-incorporated protectants derived from conventional breeding of sexually compatible plants will be exempt from most FIFRA and FFDCA needs with the exception of requirements for manufacturers to report adverse effects. Certain components of the genetic material essential for the production of plant-incorporated protectants will also be exempt from the needs for a tolerance under FFDCA.