USDA Announces Deregulation of GE Canola with Altered Oil Profile

August 24, 2018

Dear BRS Stakeholder,

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announces today the deregulation of Nuseed Americas’ canola variety genetically engineered (GE) to contain in its seed increased levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is an omega-3 fatty acid.

As part of the petition process, APHIS prepared a draft plant pest risk assessment (PPRA) and a draft environmental assessment (EA).  APHIS made these documents available for a 30-day public review and comment period on June 26, 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 canola.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), APHIS conducted a thorough review of the potential environmental impacts and prepared a final EA.  APHIS concluded in its final PPRA that this variety of GE canola is unlikely to pose a plant pest risk to agricultural crops or other plants in the United States.

A copy of APHIS’ final PPRA, EA, FONSI and supporting documents can be found on the News and Information page of the BRS website today. The effective date of deregulation will be the date of publication in the Federal Register, August 27, 2018.