ePermits Planting Report Upgrade

Dear BRS Stakeholder,

 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS) is pleased to announce a user-friendly ePermits upgrade to Planting Reports. Effective April 17, 2017, the construct data field in APHIS Planting Reports will be required.

 

Currently, ePermits users can submit a Planting Report without a construct because it is not a required data field. However, in order to submit a subsequent Field Test Report, all submitted plantings must have constructs in the Planting Report. With this upgrade, in order to submit the Field Test Report users no longer have to go back and add the construct information to the Planting Report, and repeat this edit for each planting record. Additionally, the new required construct data field ensures planting/release data are managed more efficiently and effectively, resulting in enhanced oversight of regulated field trials and fewer compliance issues by ensuring users are communicating complete construct information to APHIS.

 

Effective April 17, 2017, detailed instructions on this upgrade and how to submit planting reports can be found in the ePermits BRS Reports & Notices User Guide. You can also contact BRS via email (BRSCompliance@aphis.usda.gov) or phone (BRS Compliance: 301-851-3879) for assistance and guidance.