USDA Proposes New Biotech Regulatory Review Policies

为了回应今天发布有关美国政府对基因工程植物的市场前监管监督的释放，国家谷物和饲料协会（NGFA）强调了为实现全球范围的一致监管政策而在全球范围内努力对最新工厂繁殖方法的产品的重要性的重要性避免国际贸易的昂贵破坏。

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published several documents related to the pre-market regulatory oversight of genetically engineered plants and plants and animals derived from certain newer precision breeding techniques, commonly known as genome editing. The NGFA still is reviewing in detail the USDA's pre-published proposed rule on the "Importation, Interstate Movement, and Release into the Environment of Certain Genetically Engineered Organisms," as well as a companion proposal and guidance document issued by FDA.

The NGFA said given the global nature of agriculture and the importance of trade to the economic well-being of farmers, ranchers and the nation as a whole, consistent regulatory policies among governments for products of the latest plant breeding methods, such as gene editing, are needed so that trade in U.S. commodities, research collaborations and global seed movement are not hindered or disrupted.

"It is critical that the U.S. government actively engage with our trading partners around the world, and secure alignment in regulatory approaches with U.S. trading partners before these regulations are finalized and take effect," the NGFA noted.

USDA's proposal recognizes that some applications of gene editing result in plant varieties that are essentially equivalent to varieties developed through more traditional breeding methods, and proposes to exclude such traits from pre-market regulatory review.

NGFA还指出that consumer education about the safety of these products should be a top priority.

“必须向消费者解释这种监管方法的科学基础和理由，以促进对这些技术及其在市场上的商业应用的理解和接受，这是美国政府和种子行业，技术提供商和价值链的理解，“NGFA说。