USDA/APHIS wants public feedback on proposed biotech plant regulation changes. Here’s how to submit a comment — and amazingly, only one person has done so so far.
A new federal proposal from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is now open for public comment, raising questions about how genetically engineered organisms are tracked and regulated in the United States.
At issue is a potential reduction in recordkeeping and reporting requirements under 7 CFR Part 340, which governs the oversight of genetically engineered plants and organisms. By and For the People argues that these records are not merely administrative but essential to transparency, scientific integrity, and public accountability.
Please read the recently submitted public comment from By and For the People, which strongly opposes the proposed changes, warning that weakening documentation requirements could limit regulators, scientists, and the public's ability to assess environmental and agricultural impacts, which are records that will allow true science to take place in the future.
Our Submission emphasizes that robust record-keeping supports traceability, enforcement, and long-term ecological monitoring, and that reducing these requirements could create gaps in oversight and risk assessment.
The comment also places the proposal within a broader pattern of federal regulatory shifts, including changes to NEPA implementation, updates to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service consultation rules, and exemptions for certain genetically engineered organisms. Together, these actions are described as part of a trend toward reduced independent oversight and increased reliance on developer-provided data.
Supporters of maintaining strong reporting standards argue that without consistent and accessible data, it becomes increasingly difficult to evaluate cumulative environmental impacts or respond to unintended consequences over time. They contend that modernization should focus on improving digital systems and accessibility—not reducing the amount of information collected.
Federal agencies are actively requesting comments until April 27th. submissions from individuals, researchers, farmers, and concerned citizens can play a direct role in shaping how these regulations are finalized. Public comments are part of the official rulemaking process and are reviewed by agencies before decisions are made.
Readers are encouraged not only to review the proposal, but also to examine existing public responses—including those submitted by and for the people—to better understand the range of concerns, evidence, and perspectives being raised.
Those interested can read the full proposal and submit their own comments through the official federal portal:
https://www.regulations.gov/document/APHIS-2026-0133-0001
As federal biotechnology policy continues to evolve, this comment period represents a key moment for public participation in decisions that may impact agriculture, ecosystems, and regulatory transparency for years to come.
