APHIS Factsheet

Biotechnology Regulatory Services July 2012

Questions 

and Answers: 

Monsanto’s 

Hybridization 

System (Event MON 

87427)

APHIS received a petition from Monsanto, 

in October 2010, seeking a determination of 

nonregulated status for corn MON 87427. MON 

87427 was developed such that tolerance to the 

herbicide glyphosate is expressed throughout the 

plant, except for certain male reproductive tissues. 

As a result, appropriately timed sprays of the 

herbicide will render the plants male-sterile, thus 

eliminating the need to de-tassel when producing 

hybrid seed.

 De-tasseling of corn plants is done by removing 

the pollen-producing flowers, the tassel, from the 

tops of corn plants and placing them on the ground. 

It is a form of pollination control and is an expensive 

and time-consuming process. 

Q: What are the intended benefits of corn MON 

87427?

A: Intended benefits of the product include increased 

flexibility in hybrid seed production and economic 

benefits for hybrid seed producers. Costs associated 

with labor recruitment and deployments to perform 

de-tasseling are one of the single largest cost 

improvement opportunities in hybrid seed production. 

Q: What is Glyphosate?

A: Glyphosate is a commonly used herbicide used 

to kill weeds. When applied to glyphosate resistant 

crops, its helps control weeds without damaging the 

crop.

Q: What is CP4 EPSPS?

A: CP4 EPSPS is a protein introduced by genetic 

manipulation that is expressed in glyphosate-tolerant 

crops, which are developed to allow weed control 

choices for farmers.

Q: Has corn MON 87427 been field tested in the 

U.S.?

A: Yes, it has been field tested in the major corn 

production regions of the United States. All field 

tests that have occurred in the United States were 

under field permits and notifications, including strict 

movement controls, granted by APHIS.

Q: Why is APHIS making this petition available to 

the public?

A: This first comment period provides the public an 

opportunity to review the petition for nonregulated 

status and provide input that will be considered by 

APHIS as it develops its ensuing environmental 

assessment and plant pest risk assessment. APHIS 

will accept written comments regarding the petition 

for a determination of nonregulated status from 

interested or affected persons for a period of 60 days 

from the date of the Agency’s notice in the Federal 

Register. 

Q: What is the next step following the comment 

period?

A: After the comment period closes, APHIS will 

carefully consider all written comments received 

during the comment period and any other relevant 

information; any substantive issues identified by 

APHIS based on our review of the petition and 

our evaluation and analysis of comments will be 

considered in the development of the Agency’s 

environmental assessment and plant pest risk 

assessment. 

Q: Under APHIS’ process, what does the Agency 

do after it prepares its draft assessments?

A: After the Agency prepares these documents, it 

makes them publicly available, providing a second 

30-day opportunity for public input. The Agency then 

carefully reviews comments before any determination 

becomes final. 

For more details on the petition process, go to:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/biotechnology/pet_proc_

imp_info.shtml 

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United States Department of Agriculture • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Safeguarding American Agriculture