[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 43 (Monday, March 8, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 13221-13222]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-04716]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9 CFR Chapter I

Food Safety and Inspection Service

9 CFR Chapter III

[Docket No. APHIS-2020-0079]
RIN 0579-AE60


Regulation of the Movement of Animals Modified or Developed by 
Genetic Engineering

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Department of 
Agriculture (USDA); Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; reopening of comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: We are reopening the comment period for our advance notice of 
proposed rulemaking on establishing regulations for the movement of 
certain animals modified or developed by genetic engineering. This 
action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and 
submit comments.

DATES: The comment period for the advance notice of proposed rulemaking 
published on December 28, 2020 (85 FR 84269) is reopened. We will 
consider all comments that we receive on or before May 7, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2020-0079 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab, 
then select the Comment button in the list of documents.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2020-0079, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at regulations.gov or in our reading room, which is located 
in Room 1620 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence 
Avenue SW, Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is 
there to help you, please call (202) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Alan Pearson, Assistant Deputy 
Administrator, Biotechnology Regulatory Services; APHIS, 4700 River 
Road, Unit 98, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238; (301) 851-3944; 
[email protected]. Dr. Kis Robertson Hale, Deputy Assistant 
Administrator, Office of Public Health Science, USDA Food Safety and 
Inspection Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 341-E. Whitten 
Building; (202) 720-4819; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 28, 2020, we published in the 
Federal Register (85 FR 84269-84275, Docket No. APHIS-2020-0079) an 
advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) on establishing 
regulations for the movement of certain animals modified or developed 
by genetic engineering. As outlined in the ANPR, the United States 
Department of Agriculture would promulgate regulations using the 
authorities granted to the Department through the Animal Health 
Protection Act, the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA), and the Poultry 
Products Inspection Act (PPIA). Pursuant to these authorities, the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service would conduct a safety 
assessment of animals subject to the FMIA or PPIA that have been 
modified or developed using genetic engineering that may increase the 
animal's susceptibility to pests or diseases of livestock, including 
zoonotic diseases, or ability to transmit the same. The Food Safety and 
Inspection Service would conduct a pre-slaughter food safety assessment 
to ensure that the slaughter and processing of certain animals modified 
or developed using genetic engineering would not result in a product 
that is adulterated or misbranded.

[[Page 13222]]

    Comments on the ANPR were required to be received on or before 
February 26, 2021. We are reopening the comment period on Docket No. 
APHIS-2020-0079 for an additional 60 days. The comment period will now 
close on May 7, 2021. This action will allow interested persons 
additional time to prepare and submit comments.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 8301-8317; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 2nd day of March 2021 .
Heather Pichelman,
Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs.
Paul Kiecker,
Acting Deputy Under Secretary, Office for Food Safety.
[FR Doc. 2021-04716 Filed 3-5-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P