ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 13874Executive OrderTrump 45 · R Quiet signal

Executive Order 13874

Modernizing the Regulatory Framework for Agricultural Biotechnology Products

This executive order directs federal agencies to modernize regulations for agricultural biotechnology products, streamline oversight across USDA, EPA, and FDA, and promote both domestic public acceptance and international trade of genetically engineered crops and animals. It mandates specific plans for regulatory streamlining, a unified web-based platform for developers, consumer engagement strategies, and international trade barrier removal.

Federal Register Open PDF 84 FR 27899

Impact dates

  1. Final 90-day progress report (2-year reporting period ends)

  2. Identify streamlinable regulations and guidance; take steps to streamline

  3. Plan for unified web-based biotechnology regulatory platform

  4. Consumer engagement action plan

  5. International communications and outreach strategy

  6. International trade strategy to remove unjustified trade barriers

  7. First 90-day progress report on genome-edited specialty crop implementation

Key directives

  • USDA, EPA, FDA must identify streamlinable regulations within 180 days
  • Agencies must use existing authority to exempt low-risk products from undue regulation
  • Agencies must design plan for unified web-based regulatory platform within 180 days
  • Agencies must review regulations on genome-edited specialty crops and update to remove barriers
  • Agencies must report progress every 90 days for 2 years to OMB, OSTP, and White House policy assistants
  • USDA must develop consumer engagement action plan within 180 days
  • State Department and USDA must develop international outreach strategy within 120 days
  • USTR must develop international trade strategy within 120 days

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • EO establishes policy framework for science-based, risk-proportionate regulation

Near term (90d)

  • International outreach strategy due (120 days)
  • International trade strategy due (120 days)
  • First 90-day progress report on genome-edited specialty crop review due

Long term

  • Regulatory streamlining plans due (180 days)
  • Unified web-based platform plan due (180 days)
  • Domestic engagement strategy due (180 days)
  • Biennial progress reporting continues through June 2021

Risks & tensions

  • Streamlining mandate may conflict with environmental/health precautionary approaches at EPA and FDA
  • Exemption of 'low-risk' products lacks defined criteria, creating implementation uncertainty
  • Platform funding depends on existing appropriations and interagency agreements, creating budget risk
  • International acceptance goals may clash with EU and other trading partners' stricter biotechnology regulations
  • Science-based framing may downplay public values-based concerns about genetic engineering
Executive Order 13874: Modernizing the Regulatory Framework for Agricultural Biotechnology Products · Executive Orders