Release No. 0260.95

                                                Cynthia A. Eck  (301) 734-5931
                                                Jerry Redding   (202) 720-6959

USDA RULES ON GENETICALLY ENGINEERED POTATO

      WASHINGTON, March 24, 1995--The U.S. Department of Agriculture has ruled
it will no longer regulate Monsanto Company's seven Russet Burbank potato
lines, which are genetically engineered for resistance to the Colorado potato
beetle, the predominant insect pest of potatoes in the United States.

      "We have determined that these potato lines do not present a plant pest
risk," said John Payne, acting director of biotechnology, biologics and
environmental protection for USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service.

      In December 1994, USDA requested public comment on a petition from
Monsanto Co., of St. Louis, Mo., for a determination of nonregulated status
for the genetically engineered potato lines.

      USDA received 61 comments from potato farmers; universities; registered
dietitians; regional and national potato growers' associations, councils and
boards; cooperative extension service offices; state departments of
agriculture; high school educators; individuals; potato marketing services; a
potato research company; an agricultural experiment station; the department of
agriculture of a foreign government; a food company; an international
technology transfer agency; a potato processor; and a member of the U.S. House
of Representatives.  Fifty-eight of the commenters urged approval of the
petition.

      These potato lines were regulated because some of their noncoding
regulatory sequences were derived from the plant pathogens Agrobacterium
tumefaciens and cauliflower mosaic virus.

      Information gathered since 1991 was submitted to USDA on field trials of
the potato lines in the major potato-growing areas of the country.  These
results indicated that there were no deleterious effects on plants, nontarget
organisms, or the environment as a result of the subject potato lines' release
into the environment.  According to Payne, reviewers analyzed the results from
each of these field trials before making their determination.

      Payne said that the National Environmental Policy Act regulations and
guidelines were used to assess potential environmental impact from this
determination.  He added that USDA scientists prepared an environmental
assessment and subsequently reached a finding of no significant impact.

      For further information, contact Susan Koehler, biotechnologist,
biotechnology permits, BBEP, APHIS, USDA, 4700 River Road, Unit 147,
Riverdale, Md. 20737-1228; (301) 734-7612.  To obtain a copy of the
determination or the environmental assessment and finding of no significant
impact, contact Kay Peterson at the same address, (301) 734-7612.

      The determination, an environmental assessment and finding of no
significant impact, the petition and all written comments received regarding
the petition may be reviewed at USDA, Room 1141 South Building, 14th and
Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C., between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except holidays.  Persons wishing access to this room
are requested to call in advance of visiting at (202) 690-2817.

      The determination was published in the March 10 Federal Register and
became effective March 2.

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