By Agri-Pulse Staff
© Copyright Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 – Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., immediately welcomed Thursday's Department of Agriculture decision to deregulate Roundup Ready alfalfa without restrictions. But she warns that “flaws in the current biotechnology regulatory system, caused by multiple lawsuits, must be addressed to provide certainty for industry investors, farmers and consumers.”
House Agriculture Committee Chair Frank Lucas, R-Okla., commented that “Genetically engineered alfalfa has been subjected to an extensive multi-year review and the conclusion has always been the same: it’s safe. A product that has been repeatedly found to be safe should be deregulated. I am pleased that USDA used sound science and respected the limit of its statutory authority to make this decision.”
“I applaud the USDA’s decision to deregulate Roundup Ready alfalfa, giving growers the green light to begin planting an abundant, affordable and safe crop,” Stabenow said. “While I’m glad this decision was guided by sound science, I’m concerned that USDA’s process creates too much uncertainty for our growers. Alfalfa was one of nearly two dozen genetically modified crops awaiting USDA evaluation and approval – a bottlenecked process that hinders growth and progress.”
Going forward, she said, “As incoming
Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I’m committed to
working with the USDA and stakeholders so that the system promotes
safety, certainty, and efficiency. In the coming months, I will
examine how we can promote a properly functioning, science-based
system that promotes industry investment, growth and job creation
while ensuring that consumers can count on safe and affordable
products.” For Stewart Doan's audio report on
reactions, click HERE.
Conventional alfalfa
growers will go to court to reverse GE alfalfa deregulation. To
read USDA's 17-page “Record of Decision” on Roundup Ready GE
alfalfa, click HERE.
For
more on Vilsack's decision, click HERE.
For details of the USDA deregulation plan, click HERE.
Strong support comes from Sen. Dick
Lugar. To return to the News Index page,
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