APHIS Issues Regulatory Status Review Responses: GreenLab, Inc, Ohalo Genetics, and Norfolk Plant Sciences
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently reviewed the following plants modified using genetic engineering to determine whether they posed an increased plant pest risk as relative to non-modified comparator:
- GreenLab, Inc., modified corn to produce an enzyme that degrades cellulose and for herbicide resistance to glufosinate.
- Ohalo Genetics, modified almond for self-compatibility.
- Norfolk Plant Sciences, modified tomato for altered fruit color and enhanced nutritional quality.
APHIS found these modified plants were unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk compared to other cultivated plants. As a result, they are not subject to regulation under 7 CFR part 340. From a plant pest risk perspective, these modified plants may be safely grown and bred in the United States.