BPIA Comments on Proposed Revisions to 7 CFR Part 340

On June 6, 2019, USDA proposed revisions to 7 CFR Part 340. See BPIA’s comments here.

USDA, APHIS regulates the movement of plant pests under the Plant Protection Act (PPA) of 2000. The PPA also grants USDA the authority to regulate biocontrol organisms if they pose a plant pest risk. Regulation of biocontrol organisms is a new authority and thus was not part of any previous USDA regulations. The current regulatory proposal is about the regulation of genetically engineered (GE) organisms, e.g. plants, microbes, insects, and biocontrol organisms.

BPIA’s comments are limited to the regulation of GE microorganisms. The comments focus on USDA’s limited authority to regulate organisms only if they are plant pests. The goal of BPIA’s comments are to prevent overreach by the agency to regulate all GE microorganisms, especially those used as biostimulants.