Are rDNA biotechnology-derived foods regulated?
A. Yes. The regulation of rDNA biotechnology-derived foods is divided among three major federal agencies: the Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency. FDA is responsible for ensuring the safety and proper labeling of foods for human consumption (except for meat and poultry) and for animal feed. It also is responsible for the safety and efficacy of human and animal pharmaceutical products and for human vaccines. USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is responsible for the safety and labeling of meat and poultry products for human consumption. The agency’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service regulates the field testing and commercial sale of agricultural rDNA biotechnology-derived crops and is responsible for the safety and efficacy of animal vaccines. EPA is responsible for registering pesticides, setting environmental tolerances for pesticides, and establishing safe levels for pesticide residues in and on crops
