USDA/APHIS reopens public comment period on notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement for deregulation of maize developed using genetic engineering

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is reopening the public comment period on a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement to examine the potential environmental impacts that may result from approving a petition from Bayer CropScience U.S. (Bayer) seeking deregulation of a maize variety designated as MON 87429. This maize variety, which is intended for hybrid seed production, was modified through genetic engineering to have resistance to the herbicides dicamba, glufosinate, quizalofop, 2,4-D, and to have tissue-specific glyphosate tolerance.  

On April 27, 2021, APHIS announced the availability of the NOI for a 30-day public review and comment period, which closed on May 28, 2021. APHIS is reopening the comment period for 30 days to allow interested persons more time to prepare and submit comments.  APHIS will also consider any comments received between May 29, 2021 and June 29, 2021.  

The Federal Register notice of APHIS’ NOI can be viewed now on the News page of the APHIS Biotechnology Regulatory Services website. Members of the public can submit comments through July 30, 2021, by going to www.regulations.gov and entering “APHIS-2020-0021” into the Search field.