On August 6, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that one gene-edited blackberry and two gene-edited pennycress met the exemption criteria.

Among them, the gene-edited blackberry Rubus L. was developed by Pairwise Plants Services, Inc. Developed with seedless, reduced stem thorn development, shortened growth cycle and antibiotic resistance. Two kinds of gene editing tools were developed by CoverCress, a Us-based company. Penthlaspi arvense has the characteristics of reducing erucic acid, fiber and thioglucose in seeds. One of them further suppressed the expression of genes related to lignin formation and separation layer formation at the seed split, thus reducing seed fragmentation.

APHIS evaluated applicant sub missions and concluded that these gene-edited blackberries and pennycress are genealogy-free and are unlikely to pose a higher risk of plant pests and diseases than their unregulated counterparts. As a result, APHIS announced that these gene-edited Blackberries and Penlice meet the exemption criteria, but are still regulated by the EPA and the Food and Drug Administration.