USDA-APHIS Regulatory Framework for Genetically Engineered Organisms: How Is Gene Flow Information Used?.

Certain genetically engineered (GE) organisms, including many plants, are regulated by APHIS for the purposes of protecting plant health.  Regulations are based on authority in the Plant Protection Act to regulate plant pests.  Gene flow information is a vital aspect of plant biology needed to assess and mitigate the risks of GE plants.  This is especially true in the field testing stages of development before any potential hazards have been fully evaluated.  The goal is to control risks by limiting environmental exposure which is accomplished by ensuring that regulated GE plants and their progeny do not persist or spread in the environment after the termination of a field test.  APHIS typically imposes isolation distances to sexually compatible crop plants and requires monitoring for sexually compatible feral or wild relatives in the vicinity of a test and the precise requirements rely on the best available gene flow information.  APHIS de-regulates GE plants only after fully evaluating them according to our protection goals and concluding that they do not pose significant risks to plant health, irrespective of exposure in the environment.  After de-regulation, there are no measures imposed by APHIS to mitigate gene flow.