The executive order that the Trump administration announced [in June 2019] to streamline the approval process for agricultural biotechnology has not offered the regulatory relief that the livestock industry was hoping for, said officials from the National Pork Producers Council [June 25].
The order calls for a review of existing regulations and exemptions for certain “low-risk” agricultural products where statutorily possible.
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Crops fall under the purview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which has developed a standardized evaluation and approval process. But, gene-edited livestock — like disease-resistant pigs and hornless cattle — are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, which classifies such animals as “drugs” and the farms that raise them as drug manufacturers.
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The agricultural industry warns that once gene-edited animals become more prevalent globally, the U.S. will be at a competitive disadvantage if its farmers are waiting around for approval.
Read full, original article: Livestock industry pushes for more changes to rules on gene-edited animals (Behind Paywall)
