USDA Backs Off GMO Environmental Probes, Speeds Up Approvals
Published Date: 8/18/2025
Notice
Summary
The USDA’s APHIS is stopping its plans to prepare environmental reports for two requests about genetically engineered organisms. This change means APHIS won’t do these extra reviews anymore starting July 9, 2025. People waiting on these decisions should know the process is speeding up, with no extra costs announced.
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
APHIS Stops NEPA Reviews for GMO Petitions
APHIS is withdrawing notices of intent to prepare environmental impact statements for two petitions and, as of July 9, 2025, will no longer prepare National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analyses to accompany its review of petitions seeking determinations of nonregulated status for organisms developed using genetic engineering. This change formally notifies petitioners that APHIS will stop those extra NEPA reviews starting on July 9, 2025.
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