The statement responds to an APHIS notice announcing that the agency intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIA) concerning potential revisions to its Part 340 biotech regulations.
Other groups joining NGFA in issuing the statement were the North American Export Grain Association, Corn Refiners Association, North American Millers Association and National Oilseed Processors Association.
“To create a truly workable biotech regulatory framework for the future, APHIS must take the necessary time and make the necessary effort to address the challenge of achieving regulatory coherence and compatibility in the global market," the groups said. “We believe that any changes to US biotech regulatory processes - including Part 340 - should be considered only after advance, robust and thorough discussions with competent government authorities in countries that represent important US export markets."
The groups also asked APHIS to develop a regulatory process for biotech-enhanced ag products that takes into account their downstream effects in the supply chain. Specifically, they encourage establishing thresholds at which the GE trait can be present in the supply chain.
APHIS should coordinate the review of its biotech regulations with an ongoing review of the Coordinated Framework for biotechnology being undertaken by other federal agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), according to the groups.
The concept of “conditional deregulation” for situations where a GE trait has been identified as not posing a plant pest or noxious weed risk should also be considered by APHIS, the groups said. This would allow owners and providers of GE crops to minimize the potential for market disruptions, by preventing such crops from entering the supply stream when doing so would conflict with regulations in important US export markets.