[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 78 (Monday, April 26, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 22012]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-08625]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2020-0048]


J.R. Simplot Co.: Determination of Nonregulated Status for Z6 
Potatoes With Late Blight Protection, Low Acrylamide Potential, Lowered 
Reducing Sugars, and Reduced Black Spot

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are notifying the public that we have extended our 
determination of nonregulated status of J.R. Simplot Company's 
(Simplot's) W8 potato to event Z6 (hereafter Z6 potato). Z6 potato has 
been developed using genetic engineering for late blight protection, 
low acrylamide potential, lowered reducing sugars, and reduced black 
spot using the same construct and method of transformation as W8 
potato. Our decision was based on our evaluation of data submitted by 
Simplot in its request for an extension of a determination of 
nonregulated status, an analysis of other scientific data, and comments 
received from the public in response to a previous notice announcing 
our preliminary determination.

DATES: This determination was effective on August 28, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Cindy Eck, Biotechnology 
Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 
20737-1236; (301) 851-3892, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under the authority of the plant pest provisions of the Plant 
Protection Act (PPA) (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.), the regulations in 7 CFR 
part 340, ``Movement of Organisms Modified or Produced Through Genetic 
Engineering,'' regulate, among other things, the importation, 
interstate movement, or release into the environment of organisms 
modified or produced through genetic engineering that are plant pests 
or pose a plausible plant pest risk.
    The extension for nonregulated status described in this notice was 
evaluated under the version of the regulations effective at the time 
that it was received. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS) issued a final rule, published in the Federal Register on May 
18, 2020 (85 FR 29790-29838, Docket No. APHIS-2018-0034),\1\ revising 7 
CFR part 340; however, the final rule is being implemented in phases. 
This extension of a determination of nonregulated status was evaluated 
in accordance with the regulations at 7 CFR 340.6 (2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ To view the final rule, go to www.regulations.gov and enter 
APHIS-2018-0034 in the Search field.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In a notice published in the Federal Register on June 25, 2020 (85 
FR 38110-38111, Docket No. APHIS-2020-0048),\2\ we notified the public 
that we had received a request to extend our determination of 
nonregulated status of J.R. Simplot Company's (Simplot's) W8 potato to 
event Z6 (hereafter Z6 potato). Like W8 potato, Z6 potato has been 
developed using genetic engineering for late blight protection, low 
acrylamide potential, lowered reducing sugars, and reduced black spot, 
and had been developed using the same construct and method of 
transformation as W8 potato. This notice also made available the 
extension request, our plant pest risk similarity assessment (PPRSA), 
and our preliminary determination to extend nonregulated status to Z6 
potato.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ To view the notice, its supporting documents, or the 
comments that we received, go to www.regulations.gov and enter 
APHIS-2020-0048 in the Search field.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comments on the notice were due by July 27, 2020. APHIS received 27 
comments by the close of the comment period.
    While several commenters expressed general disapproval regarding 
organisms developed using genetic engineering, the comments received 
did not call into question the conclusions of the PPRSA or our 
preliminary determination. Accordingly, on August 28, 2020, APHIS 
determined that extension of nonregulated status should be granted to 
Z6 potato. This notice serves as an official notice and public record 
of that action.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701-7772 and 7781-7786; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 
CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 21st day of April 2021.
Michael Watson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-08625 Filed 4-23-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P