Comment from American Society of Plant Biologists; ASM; Weed Science Society of America

Summary: The American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB), the American Society of Microbiology (ASM), and the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) oppose shifting the regulatory oversight of genetically engineered (GE) organisms from the Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS) to the Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) division. They argue that PPQ lacks the necessary expertise and risk-based regulatory frameworks, which would lead to increased burdens, delays, and potential risks to international trade and public health.