The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will soon have oversight of parts of federal regulations regarding food and fiber animals modified or produced by genetic engineering. Rod Bain has the story. Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Greg Ibach, discusses the history of federal animal biotechnology regulatory oversight, leading up to a recent announcement of USDA taking over …
Secretary Perdue Announces Groundbreaking Proposal
Transfer Agricultural Animal Biotechnology Regulatory Framework to USDA (USDA) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced a significant step in modernizing regulations of agricultural animals modified or produced by genetic engineering. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be moving forward with an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) to solicit public input and feedback on a contemplated regulatory framework that …
Former Agriculture Secretaries Announce Support for USMCA
All former U.S. secretaries of agriculture since President Reagan’s administration announced support for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). In a letter to Congressional leaders, former Secretaries John Block (Reagan), Mike Espy (Clinton), Dan Glickman (Clinton), Ann Veneman (W. Bush), Mike Johanns (W. Bush), Ed Shafer (W. Bush), and Tom Vilsack (Obama) underscored the importance of passing USMCA saying, “We need …
Biotech Executive Order Vital for U.S. Agriculture-Industry Reaction
American Farm Bureau Federation The following statement regarding the Administration’s efforts to facilitate the innovation of agricultural biotechnology can be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “Having an updated, transparent and scientifically sound regulatory system for agricultural biotechnology is critical if American farmers and ranchers are to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. I applaud President …
Secretary Perdue Statement on President Trump’s Biotech EO
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement after President Donald J. Trump Signed the Modernizing the Regulatory Framework for Agricultural Biotechnology Products Executive Order. “Our current regulatory framework has impeded innovation instead of facilitating it. With this Executive Order, President Trump is once again putting America first and setting us on a course to modernize our regulatory …
EPA Delivers on President Trump’s Promise to Allow Year-Round Sale of E15 Gasoline
And Improve Transparency In Renewable Fuel Markets U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler signed the final action that would remove the key regulatory barrier to using gasoline blended with up to 15% ethanol (E15) during the summer driving season and reform the renewable identification number (RIN) compliance system under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program to increase transparency and deter …
Western Hemisphere Agriculture Leaders on Food Security and Ag Trade
Western Hemisphere agriculture leaders met on the margins of the G-20 Agricultural Ministerial in Niigata, Japan, affirming their intent to work together to champion global food security and agricultural trade on the basis of sound science and risk analysis principles. Following the meeting, top agricultural officials from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and the United States issued the following statement. “Together, …
Agricultural Production Facing Constraints Highlighted by Agriculture Ministers
The Ministers of Agriculture from Argentina, Brazil, Canada and the United States highlighted that food demand is rising while agricultural production faces significant constraints, such as limited access to arable land and fresh water. In this regard, they agreed that agricultural innovation, such as biotechnology, including precision biotechnology, will continue to play a substantial role in addressing such challenges and …
Establishing the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard. The National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Law, passed by Congress in July of 2016, directed USDA to establish this national mandatory standard for disclosing foods that are or may be bioengineered. The Standard requires food manufacturers, importers and certain retailers to ensure bioengineered foods are appropriately disclosed. “The …
ASTA Applauds International Statement in Support of Plant Breeding Innovation
The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) applauds the proactive, coordinated action by 13 countries, including the U.S., in signing onto the International Statement on Agricultural Applications of Precision Biotechnology. The statement reiterates an international commitment to the fair, science-based treatment of evolving plant breeding methods, like gene editing, around the world. ”This is a strong showing of support by governments around the …