Availability of Petition for Deregulation of Altered Oil Profile and Herbicide Resistant GE Canola

Dear BRS Stakeholder,

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is inviting public comment on a petition from BASF Plant Science L.P. (BASF) seeking deregulation of a canola variety genetically engineered (GE) to convert oleic acid to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), as well as for resistance to an imidazolinone herbicide. DHA and EPA are omega-3 fatty acids that support brain development and protect neurological function. BASF’s canola accumulates a substantially higher concentration of DHA and EPA in the seed oil compared to other conventional canola varieties. DHA and EPA have a long history of safe consumption in food and feed.  The petition will be available for public review and comment for 60 days starting March 30, 2018.

The petition can be accessed now on the News and Information page of the BRS website.

Comments may be submitted from March 30, 2018 – May 29, 2018, at www.regulations.gov by entering docket number APHIS-2018-0014 in the search box. You can also refer back to our website for links to the Federal Register notice and to make a comment.