Perdue’s last act: FDA gives genetic-engineered farm animal’s regulation to USDA

The last act of Sonny Perdue as US Secretary of Agricolture was the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between USDA and FDA.

This MOU allows the transition of some regulatory oversight from FDA to USDA regarding the developing of genetic-engineered animals that are intended for agricultural purposes, such as human food, fiber and labor.

The two agencies will continue to cooperate closely together monitoring the agricultural food safety, but USDA will serve as the single point of entry and gateway for agriculture amenable species developed using genetic engineering. These animal species (cattle, sheep, goats, swine, horses, mules, or other equines, catfish, and poultry) will be safeguarded by USDA providing end-to-end oversight, from the production to the post-market food safety.

“Today’s Memorandum of Understanding clears a path to bring our regulatory framework into the 21st century, putting American producers on a level playing field with their competitors around the world. In the past, regulations stifled innovation, causing American businesses to play catch-up and cede market share,” said Secretary Perdue. “America has the safest and most affordable food supply in the entire world thanks to the innovation of our farmers, ranchers and producers. Establishing a new, transparent, risk and science-based regulatory framework would ensure this continues to be the case.”

USDA and FDA have a long history of overlapping jurisdictional authority on agricultural food safety. This MOU will helps to give a better division of roles between the two agencies, that will maintain collaborative working relationship with periodical meetings.