[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 133 (Friday, July 11, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37187-37188]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18144]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 97-066-1]
Genetically Engineered Virus Resistant Plants; Public Meeting
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service will hold a meeting to discuss several issues
related to the use of transgenes from plant viruses in the development
of genetically engineered plants. The meeting will be operated as a
workshop, and we request that interested persons register 2 weeks
before the meeting date.
DATES: The meeting will be held in Riverdale, MD, on Tuesday, August 5,
1997, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in Training Room 4 at the USDA
Center at Riverside, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the agenda and
to register for the meeting, contact Dr. James White, Biotechnology and
Scientific Services, PPQ, APHIS, Suite 5B05, 4700 River Road Unit 147,
Riverdale, MD 20737-1236, (301) 734-5940; or e-mail:
jwhite@aphis.usda.gov. Information about the meeting is also available
on the Internet at the APHIS World Wide Web site: http://
www.aphis.usda.gov/biotech.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 7 CFR part 340,
``Introduction of Organisms and Products Altered or Produced Through
Genetic Engineering Which Are Plant Pests or Which There Is Reason to
Believe Are Plant Pests,'' regulate, among other things, the
introduction (importation, interstate movement, or release into the
environment) of organisms and products altered or produced through
genetic engineering that are plant pests or that there is reason to
believe are plant pests. Such genetically engineered organisms and
products are considered ``regulated articles.'' Before introducing a
regulated article, a person is required under Sec. 340.0 of the
regulations to either (1) notify the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS) in accordance with Sec. 340.3 or (2) obtain a permit in
accordance with Sec. 340.4. The regulations in Sec. 340.6 provide that
any person may submit a petition to APHIS seeking a determination that
an article should not be regulated under 7 CFR part 340. In this
regard, APHIS believes it appropriate to review any new scientific
issues associated with the release of certain genetically engineered
organisms when questions arise concerning the use of such organisms in
the environment.
To provide an opportunity for a discussion of the scientific issues
surrounding the development of certain virus resistant plants, APHIS
has scheduled a workshop to be held in Riverdale, MD, on August 5,
1997. Three issues will be addressed in the meeting.
(1) Some plant viruses replicate in a limited number of plant
cells. If a plant is engineered to be resistant using one of the genes
from these viruses and the transgene is produced in all the plant
cells, does this raise the likelihood of a new virus appearing via
recombination?
(2) The next generation of genetically engineered virus resistant
plants may contain several transgenes derived from one virus, e.g.,
replicase and coat protein. Does the presence of a larger
[[Page 37188]]
proportion of the genome of a virus in a plant raise the likelihood of
a new virus appearing?
(3) Most scientific discussions of the risks associated with the
use of transgenes focus on transgenes derived from RNA viruses. Are
there any additional concerns with use of transgenes derived from
single stranded DNA plant viruses, e.g., geminiviruses?
APHIS has invited a group of scientists with recognized expertise
in viral recombination to explore these subject areas. The public is
invited to attend and to participate in the discussions. We expect to
provide a summary of the discussions, which will be made available on
the APHIS World Wide web site, or by contacting the individual listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
We request that interested persons submit registrations, which
should include name, address, and telephone number, by July 22, 1997,
to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Done in Washington, DC, this 2nd day of July 1997.
Terry L. Medley,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 97-18144 Filed 7-10-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
