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What "Bioengineered Food" Means Under Federal Law
The definition of "bioengineered food" in 7 CFR 66.1 and the effective date stated in a 2023 list rule.
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Updated: Sources: 2
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What matters now
- The regulatory definition of "bioengineered food" comes from 7 CFR 66.1 and turns on rDNA modification that could not occur through conventional breeding or in nature.
- The List of Bioengineered Foods final rule is a separate record from the definition itself.
- The 2023 final rule states that it became effective December 29, 2023.
Under 7 CFR 66.1, a bioengineered food is one that “contains genetic material that has been modified through in vitro recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (rDNA) techniques and for which the modification could not otherwise be obtained through conventional breeding or found in nature” (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/section-66.1). A separate 2023 Federal Register final rule about the List of Bioengineered Foods states: “Effective Date: This rule is effective December 29, 2023.” (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/11/29/2023-26059/national-bioengineered-food-disclosure-standard-list-of-bioengineered-foods).
This original record-reading guide is a general reading aid, not cited evidence. It does not depict a source record; the article text and source links provide the facts.
Key points
- The regulatory definition of “bioengineered food” comes from 7 CFR 66.1 and turns on rDNA modification that could not occur through conventional breeding or in nature.
- The List of Bioengineered Foods final rule is a separate record from the definition itself.
- The 2023 final rule states that it became effective December 29, 2023.
The federal definition of “bioengineered food”
The definition codified at 7 CFR 66.1 is part of the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard. It defines a bioengineered food as one that “contains genetic material that has been modified through in vitro recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (rDNA) techniques and for which the modification could not otherwise be obtained through conventional breeding or found in nature” (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/section-66.1).
Bioengineered Foods list
The definition in 7 CFR 66.1 and the List of Bioengineered Foods final rule are separate records. The 2023 rule states plainly: “Effective Date: This rule is effective December 29, 2023.” (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/11/29/2023-26059/national-bioengineered-food-disclosure-standard-list-of-bioengineered-foods). This article reports that stated date without determining the contents or present status of any list.
What this article does not answer
This article covers only the definition in 7 CFR 66.1 and the effective date stated in the 2023 final rule. It does not determine the present contents of any list, the labeling of a particular product, or health and safety effects.
Source links
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/section-66.1 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/11/29/2023-26059/national-bioengineered-food-disclosure-standard-list-of-bioengineered-foods