[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]APHIS preparing programmatic Environmental Impact Statement to update its biotechnology regulations[/title][fusion_text]Tuesday, February 2nd 2016
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will prepare a programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to “evaluate a range of alternatives” for updating its biotechnology regulations. APHIS plans to publish a notice in the Federal Register this week asking for comments on what the agency should consider in the draft EIS, as well as on the definitions that APHIS plans to use. Since 1987, APHIS said it has been considering amending its regulations that address “introductions of the products of biotechnology that may pose plant pest or noxious weed risks to reflect lessons learned from regulating biotechnology products, reflect advances in biotechnology and address comments and suggestions raised by stakeholders.” It added that the update to the regulations would “increase the efficiency and precision of our regulations.” Last March, APHIS withdrew a proposal it had published in 2008. “Because of rules limiting ex parte communications with respect to active rulemakings, publication of the 2008 proposed rule has constrained our ability to talk about alternatives with stakeholders,” APHIS said last year. “Withdrawing the proposed rule will lift this constraint and provide for a more timely and transparent dialogue.” The formal notice of intent to prepare the EIS will be published in the Federal Register Feb. 4 or 5, depending on which APHIS announcement one received. The public will have 30 days to comment.
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