[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 133 (Friday, July 11, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37187-37188]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18144]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 97-066-1]


Genetically Engineered Virus Resistant Plants; Public Meeting

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service will hold a meeting to discuss several issues 
related to the use of transgenes from plant viruses in the development 
of genetically engineered plants. The meeting will be operated as a 
workshop, and we request that interested persons register 2 weeks 
before the meeting date.

DATES: The meeting will be held in Riverdale, MD, on Tuesday, August 5, 
1997, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in Training Room 4 at the USDA 
Center at Riverside, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the agenda and 
to register for the meeting, contact Dr. James White, Biotechnology and 
Scientific Services, PPQ, APHIS, Suite 5B05, 4700 River Road Unit 147, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1236, (301) 734-5940; or e-mail: 
[email protected]. Information about the meeting is also available 
on the Internet at the APHIS World Wide Web site: http://
www.aphis.usda.gov/biotech.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 7 CFR part 340, 
``Introduction of Organisms and Products Altered or Produced Through 
Genetic Engineering Which Are Plant Pests or Which There Is Reason to 
Believe Are Plant Pests,'' regulate, among other things, the 
introduction (importation, interstate movement, or release into the 
environment) of organisms and products altered or produced through 
genetic engineering that are plant pests or that there is reason to 
believe are plant pests. Such genetically engineered organisms and 
products are considered ``regulated articles.'' Before introducing a 
regulated article, a person is required under Sec. 340.0 of the 
regulations to either (1) notify the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) in accordance with Sec. 340.3 or (2) obtain a permit in 
accordance with Sec. 340.4. The regulations in Sec. 340.6 provide that 
any person may submit a petition to APHIS seeking a determination that 
an article should not be regulated under 7 CFR part 340. In this 
regard, APHIS believes it appropriate to review any new scientific 
issues associated with the release of certain genetically engineered 
organisms when questions arise concerning the use of such organisms in 
the environment.
    To provide an opportunity for a discussion of the scientific issues 
surrounding the development of certain virus resistant plants, APHIS 
has scheduled a workshop to be held in Riverdale, MD, on August 5, 
1997. Three issues will be addressed in the meeting.
    (1) Some plant viruses replicate in a limited number of plant 
cells. If a plant is engineered to be resistant using one of the genes 
from these viruses and the transgene is produced in all the plant 
cells, does this raise the likelihood of a new virus appearing via 
recombination?
    (2) The next generation of genetically engineered virus resistant 
plants may contain several transgenes derived from one virus, e.g., 
replicase and coat protein. Does the presence of a larger

[[Page 37188]]

proportion of the genome of a virus in a plant raise the likelihood of 
a new virus appearing?
    (3) Most scientific discussions of the risks associated with the 
use of transgenes focus on transgenes derived from RNA viruses. Are 
there any additional concerns with use of transgenes derived from 
single stranded DNA plant viruses, e.g., geminiviruses?
    APHIS has invited a group of scientists with recognized expertise 
in viral recombination to explore these subject areas. The public is 
invited to attend and to participate in the discussions. We expect to 
provide a summary of the discussions, which will be made available on 
the APHIS World Wide web site, or by contacting the individual listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    We request that interested persons submit registrations, which 
should include name, address, and telephone number, by July 22, 1997, 
to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 2nd day of July 1997.
Terry L. Medley,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 97-18144 Filed 7-10-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P