In this third episode of the Talking Ag Biotech podcast on regulatory policies and procedures impacting agricultural biotechnology in the United States, Keith Matthews and Chris Wozniak discuss the 2022 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS) Annual Stakeholder Meeting and recent significant biotech regulatory decisions by APHIS, including a colorful and healthier tomato, the potential return to the forest of an iconic North American tree species, and an improved potato.

In addition, please note that, subsequent to this recording of the podcast, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) issued a Request for Information (RFI)(https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-12-20/pdf/2022-27599.pdf) on behalf of the U.S. Coordinated Framework Agencies (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, USDA) seeking “relevant data and information, including case studies, that may assist in identifying any regulatory ambiguities, gaps, inefficiencies, or uncertainties in the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology, particularly with regard to new and emerging biotechnology products.” The intent of the RFI is to obtain information that can help to inform U.S. regulatory efforts “to improve the clarity and efficiency of the regulatory processes for biotechnology products.” Information is requested to be submitted no later than February 3, 2023. Please note that the agencies have scheduled a “virtual listening session” on January 12 to permit interested parties an opportunity to respond to the RFI.