Agricultural Marketing Service seeks comments on bioengineered labelling standard

The Agricultural Marketing Service is seeking comments from interested stakeholders regarding a proposed rule to create a labelling standard for bioengineered food and ingredients. For the purposes of this proposed rule, “food” is anything that fits the FDA’s definition of food intended for human consumption; i.e., this proposed rule would not cover pet food. The proposed rule defines “bioengineered” as anything “that contains genetic material that has been modified through in vitro recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) techniques; and for which the modification could not otherwise be obtained through conventional breeding or found in nature.” This generally means transgenic substances—where genes from one type of organism are introduced to another type of organism. Under this definition, most gene-editing efforts that have been undertaken in agricultural crops and food animals would not be labeled under the proposed rule. Comments are due July 3. More information is available, and comments can be submitted online at www.regulations.gov by searching the Docket ID “AMS-TM-17-0050-0004.” Comments can be submitted by mail to Docket Clerk, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Room 4543-South, Washington, D.C. 20250; be sure to include the Docket ID in the heading of your letter. — WLJ