USDA, FDA, EPA launch joint website for biotech regulation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched a Unified Website for Biotechnology Regulation on Jan. 9, where relevant background information and resources regarding the government’s regulatory policy on biotechnology products are housed. The website describes the federal review process for certain biotechnology-enhanced products and allows users to submit questions to the three agencies.

USDA, FDA and EPA are the three regulatory agencies charged with overseeing agricultural biotechnology products under the so-called U.S. Coordinated Framework for Biotechnology Products.  President Trump issued an Executive Order on Modernizing the Regulatory Framework for Agricultural Biotechnology Products that called, among other things, for a centralized website housing relevant information from the three agencies. Trump also declared January as National Biotechnology Month in a separate announcement on Jan. 1, 2020.

USDA noted in a press release: “The goals of this website are to provide enhanced customer service to innovators and developers, while ensuring Americans continue to enjoy the safest and most affordable food supply in the world and can learn more about the safe use of biotechnology innovations.”