BIO's statement came in a letter that was delivered to Grassley by the president of Bio, Carl Feldbaum. BIO's new statement indicates that they will defer to and encourage absolute compliance with whatever future guidance or regulations may be issued by the Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture.
"Iowa should be much better served with the new position BIO has taken. Iowa producers have a strong, scientific case for being involved in this new agricultural opportunity," Grassley said. "It's good to see that BIO has realized that they are putting unscientific restraints on Iowa and many other states."
Grassley has worked with BIO, USDA and Iowa State University to address the problem that ensued following BIO's original statement. BIO first stated that pharmaceutical-producing plants which out-cross should only be grown in regions of the country that are not centers of that crop's production.
Grassley said biotechnology has the potential to be a multi-million dollar industry for Iowa. He said that a BIO's new statement can go a long way in helping relieve some problems that occurred following BIO's original statement.
For a copy of the letter to Grassley from BIO and BIO's new position statement, call Beth Pellett at 202-224-6197.