A collection of agriculture industry groups has written USDA, urging the department to further its own regulatory structure for gene editing in livestock.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently regulates the DNA of genetically modified animals, and the groups say the FDA’s regulatory approach “will only stifle U.S. producers’ access to much-needed innovations.” The groups urged USDA to continue its rule-making process first initiated under a December 2020 advance notice of proposed rule-making to establish regulations for genetically engineered livestock under the department.
“Academics, developers and investors are unlikely to make the significant investments needed to research and develop agricultural innovations if they do not have clear, predictable criteria to achieve enforcement discretion and reasonable market access,” the letter concluded.
The letter was signed by 11 livestock and commodity groups, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Sheep Industry Association and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
