The Clinton Administration announced in early May a series of food and agricultural biotechnology initiatives designed to strengthen science-based regulation and consumer access to information.

"These steps are intended to build consumer confidence, ensure that regulations keep pace with the latest scientific and market developments, and provide that voluntary product claims, such as labels, relating to biotechnology are truthful and not misleading," the Administration stated.

FDA will publish a proposed rule mandating that developers of bioengineered foods and animal feeds notify the agency when they intend to market such products, and provide the agency with specific information to help determine whether the products raise any potential safety, labeling, or adulteration issues.

Information submitted to the agency and the agency’s conclusions will be made available to the public through the FDA web site. FDA also will draft labeling guidance to assist manufacturers who wish to voluntarily label their foods made with or without the use of bioengineered ingredients.

USDA will work with farmers and industry to create reliable testing procedures and quality-assurance programs for differentiating non-bioengineered commodities to meet the needs of the market. The agency also will provide farmers with both better market information to inform their planting decisions and best-farming practices for new crop varieties. USDA will work closely with the State Department to collect and disseminate timely information about international markets.

The Administration plans several interagency efforts as well. The Council on Environmental Quality and the Office of Science and Technology Policy will conduct a six-month interagency assessment of federal environmental regulations pertaining to agricultural biotechnology. USDA, FDA, EPA, and the State Department will enhance both domestic and foreign public-education and outreach activities, to improve understanding of the nature and strength of our regulatory process. Using a variety of outreach mechanisms, the agencies will proactively engage the public on how their foods are regulated and why these regulations protect the environment and human health.

Additional research also plays a role in the Administration’s plans. USDA, FDA, and EPA will support an expanded program of competitively-awarded, peer-reviewed research focusing on current and future safety issues. The agencies will coordinate their research programs related to risk assessment of agricultural biotechnology, expanding the programs based on available resources.

Information about the Administration’s plans is available at the web site: