A recent decision by U.S. District Judge James Donato reinstates older regulations for genetically engineered (GE) crops, reversing updates made under the 2020 SECURE rule.
The ruling, issued in December in National Family Farm Coalition v. Vilsack, reintroduces a process-focused regulatory framework, affecting advancements in molecular breeding techniques such as CRISPR.
The SECURE rule had modernized oversight by evaluating GE crops based on potential risk rather than the method used to develop them, aligning with decades of scientific research. With the court’s decision to vacate the rule, regulatory approval for GE crops will revert to the previous process, potentially increasing costs and extending timelines for bringing new plant varieties to market.
Scientific organizations, including the National Academy of Sciences and the National Research Council, have maintained that the safety of GE crops should be assessed based on the final product rather than the breeding method. The ruling raises concerns within the agricultural sector about future innovation, regulatory predictability, and the broader implications for food security and sustainability.
As the industry navigates this regulatory shift, stakeholders await further legal developments or potential new guidance from the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
