USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced on July 24, 2018, the deregulation of Bayer CropScience’s cotton variety genetically engineered for resistance to the herbicides glyphosate and p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase inhibitors, such as isoxafluatole. 

APHIS conducted a thorough review of the potential environmental impacts and prepared a final environmental assessment, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. APHIS concluded in its final Plant Pest Risk Assessment that this variety of GE cotton is unlikely to pose a plant pest risk to agricultural crops or other plants in the United States.

As part of the petition process, APHIS prepared a draft plant pest risk assessment (PPRA), draft environmental assessment (EA), preliminary finding of no significant impact (FONSI), and a preliminary determination of nonregulated status. APHIS made these documents available for a 30-day public review and comment period on June 7, 2018.  After considering the public comments, APHIS has determined it is unlikely to pose a plant pest risk and is deregulating this variety of GE cotton. 

A copy of APHIS’ final PPRA, EA, FONSI and supporting documents can be found on the BRS website. 

Source: USDA APHIS