LOGO

US APHIS announced that one gene-edited tomato and one gene-edited Thlaspi Herba met the exemption criteria

1729126709827862.jpg


On September 27, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that one gene-edited tomato and one gene-edited Thlaspi Herba were eligible for exemption. The gene-edited tomato was developed by Phytoform Labs Ltd. The research and development can remove the separation area on the flower stalk of the tomato fruit (so that the plant organs are separated from the tissue of the mother plant), improve the situation of falling flowers and fruits caused by the external environment during the growth of tomatoes, ensure the tomato yield, and help improve the mechanical harvest and subsequent processing efficiency. Developed by Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in the United States, gene editing Thlaspi Herba can suppress weed growth under high density cultivation, increase sowing density and increase yield.

 

After evaluating submissions, APHIS concluded that the gene-edited tomato and Thlaspi Herba contain no foreign genes and are unlikely to pose a higher risk of plant pests and diseases than their non-regulated counterparts. As a result, APHIS declared that it meets the criteria for an exemption, but is still regulated by the EPA and the Food and Drug Administration.


Need help or have a question?

Send mail