On December 8, 2020, EPN commented on EPA’s proposed regulations to allow certain genetically modified plant-incorporated protectants (PIPs) to be exempt from Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) registration and Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) requirements. Plants can be genetically modified to help them produce substances that fight pests. These plant-made pesticides are called PIPs. Currently, only crops genetically modified through conventional breeding are exempt from FIFRA and FFDCA requirements. EPA’s proposed rule would extend the exemptions to include certain PIPs created through biotechnology. EPN identified possible risks to human health and the environment that must be analyzed in potentially exempted products, and urged EPA to add additional conditions based on economic and social considerations to any exemption rule before it is finalized.
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Read the comments.