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Action Taken Concerning GMO Sugarbeets

A recent court ruling returned genetically engineered sugar beets to regulated status, but the ruling does not apply to genetically engineered sugar beet root and seed crops that were planted by Aug. 13, 2010. The genetically engineered sugar beet root crop that has already been planted may be processed and sold as sugar.

In response, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says that USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service must chart a course for compliance with its statutory authorities and environmental statutes while USDA works to create the environment where all types of producers can and do produce all types of crops.

APHIS is taking the following steps: APHIS is issuing permits to sugar beet seed producers to authorize "steckling" or seedlings production this fall under strict permit conditions. In the meantime, APHIS is evaluating a request for a partial deregulation of glyphosate resistant sugar beets. In connection with this evaluation, APHIS is developing an appropriate environmental analysis to inform its decision making regarding this request to authorize future seed and root crop plantings under a combination of permits, administrative orders, or other regulatory measures.