White House Proposal for Biotech Crops

Anticipating an increased risk that the nation’s food supply may be contaminated unintentionally, the White House will propose revised regulations for biotech companies wanting to market new varieties of genetically modified crops.

But environmentalists and consumer groups said the new plan could threaten U.S. farm exports overseas and reduce the liability of biotech companies for their new technology.

Under the proposal, the Food and Drug Administration would focus its efforts mainly on determining the toxicity and allergenicity of a new biotech crop.

Companies would be asked to submit scientific data sooner to the FDA, showing the new biotech crop variety does not have an adverse effect on the environment or consumers.

Developers would submit the data while field testing their product, instead of the current practice of waiting until after testing was complete.