Abstract
The Department of Agriculture has ruled it need longer regulate Calgene's Flavr Savr tomato, opening the way for marketing of the first genetically engineered tomato. This decision will allow the Davis, Calif.- based agricultural biotechnology company to grow and ship the tomatoes without further USDA permits. Calgene also is seeking a Food & Drug Administration advisory opinion that the tomato can be classified as food and can be considered safe, despite the insertion of foreign genetic material. The tomato contains a marker gene, and an antisense polygalacturonase (PG) gene that blocks production of the PG enzyme so as to slow fruit softening. The tomato was regulated by USDA because the marker gene is derived from plant pathogens. However, responding to a petition for review filed by Calgene and to public comments, scientific literature, and expert opinion, USDA's Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) finds no need to treat the 'Flavr Savr' tomato any ...
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