A Service of Montana State University Extension and the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences Sponsored through funding provided by Montana Wheat and Barley Committee

Clinton Panel Assesses Laws Governing Biotech Foods

The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the Office of Science and
Technology Policy (OSTP) published a report last month that reviews existing
Federal environmental laws governing biotech foods. The report states that
"no significant negative environmental impacts have been associated with the
use of any previously approved biotechnology."

In May of 2000, former President Clinton directed the CEQ and the OSTP to
conduct a six month interagency assessment of Federal environmental
regulations pertaining to agricultural biotechnology. According to the
report, the assessment was undertaken "to ensure U.S. regulations keep pace
with the latest scientific and product developments." 

The report contains a list of case studies to describe how products are
being regulated or how they may be potentially regulated. "However, due to
time limitations, the interagency working group that was assigned to conduct
the assessment was not able to conduct the analysis necessary to develop
conclusions or recommendations," said the report.

The report asks for public comment by May 1, 2001 on whether any regulatory
changes are needed in laws to protect the environment. 

To view a copy of the report, please go to:
http://www.ostp.gov/html/012201.html .

What you can do: Submit your comments before the public comment period ends
on May 1.

Points to make:
* Biotech crops give farmers another option in the crucial task of
protecting their crops from pests and disease, with minimal or no impact on
the environment. 
* Used appropriately, biotech crops can promote conservation tillage,
which in turn helps preserve precious topsoil and protects water quality.
* Similarly, biotechnology can increase the productivity of existing
cultivated acreage, that will help meet increasing world food demand,
reducing the need to encroach further on wildlife habitats.