The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced today the deregulation of Bayer U.S.-Crop Science's MON 95379 corn.
The genetically engineered corn variety was developed to resist feeding damage from pests including fall armyworm, sugarcane borer and corn earworm.
After a comprehensive review, APHIS determined the new corn variety is "unlikely to pose a greater plant pest risk than the nonmodified comparator" and no longer requires regulation governing certain genetically engineered organisms.
The decision followed evaluation of data submitted by Bayer, available scientific research and public comments received during the review process.
APHIS is publishing its Determination of Nonregulated Status, final plant pest risk assessment and response to public comments, which document the agency's analysis of potential plant pest impacts associated with the deregulation.
The deregulation allows Bayer to commercialize the corn variety without additional USDA oversight.
