Federal agricultural regulators are reviewing a petition from Pioneer Hi-Bred International to broaden the approval of their genetically modified corn products.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has made public that they received Pioneer’s application to expand their existing regulatory determination. The company seeks to extend the nonregulated classification from their current DP23211 corn variety to include their newer DP51291 strain.
Both corn varieties share identical genetic modifications, according to the agency. The DP51291 corn contains the same engineered traits as the previously approved variety, including the IPD072Aa protein designed to combat specific corn rootworm species that damage crops.
The genetically modified corn also incorporates two additional proteins: phosphinothricin acetyltransferase, which serves dual purposes as both a selection tool during development and to provide resistance against glufosinate-based herbicides, and phosphomannose isomerase, which functions as another selection marker in the engineering process.
Federal officials have opened the extension application, along with their preliminary risk evaluation and tentative approval decision, for public input and commentary during a review period.
