Final answer:
Developers petition APHIS for the non-regulated status of GE organisms once sufficient evidence is collected showing no additional plant pest risk compared to non-GE organisms. Regulatory and risk assessment processes ensure environmental and human health safety as supported by NASEM's GE Crop Report. The option (E) is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a developer has collected enough evidence that a GE organism poses no more of a plant pest risk than an equivalent non-GE organism, the developer may petition APHIS to determine the non-regulated status of the GE organism. The APHIS decision is crucial for the introduction of GE organisms into the environment. This process involves strict risk analyses and adherence to regulatory frameworks to ensure that the planned introduction of GE crops does not pose a greater risk than conventionally bred crops to either human health or the environment.
As discussed in the comprehensive report by the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (“NASEM’s GE Crop Report”), while genetic transfer between GE crops and wild relatives has been observed, there has been no evidence of ecological harm from that transfer. The report calls for continued monitoring, particularly for newly developed crops, to mitigate potential risks associated with GE organisms. Such concerns extend to issues related to interbreeding with native species, which can potentially create super weeds therefore introducing ecological imbalances. Addressing these concerns, NASEM and other organizations such as the American Medical Association support the safety of GE crops and advocate for thorough risk assessments for both GE and traditionally bred crops. Therefore, option (E) is correct.
This question is not complete, Here I am attaching the complete question:
"When a developer has collected enough evidence that a GE organism poses no more of a plant pest risk than an equivalent non-GE organism, the developer may _________ APHIS to determine the ___________ status for the GE organism."
(A) permit: introduction
(B) Permit:release
(C) Injunction:permit
(D) Petition:introduction
(E) Petition:non-regulated