USDA Investigating Unapproved GE Petunias

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services is investigating imported unapproved genetically modified petunias. USDA says the GE petunias produce various hues of orange, red and purple colored flowers. The petunias have been imported into the U.S. from Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe, South America, as well as the countries of Australia, Israel and Mexico, and distributed without proper authorization. USDA says APHIS is working in close cooperation with breeders and growers represented by the American Seed Trade Association and AmericanHort to ensure the GE petunia varieties are withdrawn from distribution. APHIS says Petunias are annual, ornamental plants that have no sexually compatible wild relatives in the United States. Several distributors have already voluntarily removed GE petunias from distribution and destroyed them in accordance with APHIS guidance.

From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting news service.