USDA's Animal and Plant Inspection Service oversees the agricultural environmental safety of planting and field testing of genetically engineered plants. EPA regulates those plants that have been engineered to contain pesticides and herbicides, since such compounds, usually applied externally, fall under its purview. The FDA is responsible for the safety and labeling of all foods and animal feeds derived from biotech crops. The FDA set up a consultation process to help companies meet regulatory requirements. While consultation is voluntary, the foods still have to meet certain mandatory safety requirements.
Companies send the agency data to show that the food is as safe as conventional food.
The firms describe the new genes, and whether the proteins made by them could cause allergies. If the plant is substantively different than what is on the market, the company has to specially label any product made from it. The FDA follows up on all adverse reactions reported about food, including reactions to genetically modified crops. Approximately 40 to 50 genetically modified products are currently on the market. One of the first bio-engineered products on the supermarket shelves, the Flavr Savr Tomato, is no longer available.