Image Credit: USDA
Genetically Modified Crops to Get Faster Approval, USDA Says that biotechs will have faster review of their products. The goal is to reduce the time in half from the current three year approval cycle.
Bloomberg explains that the current delay is because of more legal challenges and food laws. Earlier, processing of biotech submissions was accomplished in six months.
The USDA obtains its regulatory power from the Plant Protection Act of June 20, 2000. Because of the overlap between the USDA and FDA, there is a United States Regulatory Agencies Unified Biotechnology Website. . Three Federal agencies are responsible for regulating agricultural biotechnology in the U.S.: the U.S. Department of Agriculture' s Animal AND Plant Health Inspection Service(APHIS), the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency(EPA), AND the Department OF Health AND Human Services ' Food AND Drug Administration(FDA).
The specific laws and regulations are provided in this website. For consumable food, a primary regulation is Foods Derived from New Plant Varieties, dated May 29, 1992.
Sheesh. Think how much has changed in biotechnology in 20 years. Methinks updated regulations would be a good idea.
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