Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.: Availability of a Petition for a Determination of Nonregulated Status and Draft Plant Pest Risk Assessment for Insect Resistant COR-ØØ121-4 Maize (Zea mays)

Issuing agencies

Abstract

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has received a petition from Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. seeking a determination of nonregulated status for COR-[Oslash][Oslash]121-4 maize (corn), which has been developed using genetic engineering to express the IPD083Cb protein for protection against certain susceptible lepidopteran pests and the phosphomannose isomerase protein that was used as a selectable marker. We are making the petition and draft plant pest risk assessment available for public review and comment.

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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 215 (Monday, November 9, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 70834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-22810]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
appearing in this section.

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Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 215 / Monday, November 9, 2026 / 
Notices

[[Page 70834]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2026-1288]


Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.: Availability of a Petition 
for a Determination of Nonregulated Status and Draft Plant Pest Risk 
Assessment for Insect Resistant COR-[Oslash][Oslash]121-4 Maize (Zea 
mays)

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service has received a petition from Pioneer Hi-Bred 
International, Inc. seeking a determination of nonregulated status for 
COR-[Oslash][Oslash]121-4 maize (corn), which has been developed using 
genetic engineering to express the IPD083Cb protein for protection 
against certain susceptible lepidopteran pests and the phosphomannose 
isomerase protein that was used as a selectable marker. We are making 
the petition and draft plant pest risk assessment available for public 
review and comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
January 8, 2027.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. 
Enter APHIS-2026-1288 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab, 
then select the Comment button in the list of documents.
    <bullet> Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2026-1288, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue #AP760, Beltsville, MD 20705.
    The petition, draft plant pest risk assessment, and any comments we 
receive on this docket may be viewed at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>, or in our 
reading room, which is located in 1620 of the USDA South Building, 14th 
Street and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC. Normal reading room 
hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. 
To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 799-7039 
before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Alan Pearson, Biotechnology 
Regulatory Services, APHIS, USDA, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, AP100-3-WS-
1151, Beltsville, MD 20705; (301) 851-3944; email: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a0c1ccc1ce8ed0c5c1d2d3cfcee0d5d3c4c18ec7cfd6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="56373a37387826333724253938162325323778313920">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the authority of the plant pest 
provisions of the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.), the 
regulations in 7 CFR part 340, ``Introduction of Organisms and Products 
Altered or Produced Through Genetic Engineering Which Are Plant Pests 
or Which There Is Reason to Believe Are Plant Pests,'' regulate, among 
other things, the introduction (importation, interstate movement, or 
release into the environment) of organisms and products altered or 
produced through genetic engineering that are plant pests or that there 
is reason to believe are plant pests. Such organisms and products are 
considered ``regulated articles.''
    Section 340.6(a) of the regulations provides that any person may 
submit a petition to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS) seeking a determination that an article should not be regulated 
under 7 CFR part 340. Paragraphs (b) and (c) of Sec.  340.6 describe 
the form that a petition for a determination of nonregulated status 
must take and the information that must be included in the petition.
    APHIS has received a petition (APHIS Petition Number 26-084-01p) 
from Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. seeking a determination of 
nonregulated status for COR-[Oslash][Oslash]121-4 maize (corn), 
referred to as COR121 maize, which has been developed using genetic 
engineering to express the IPD083Cb protein for protection against 
certain susceptible lepidopteran pests and the phosphomannose isomerase 
protein that was used as a selectable marker. The petition states that 
the information provided indicates that COR121 maize is unlikely to 
pose a plant pest risk and therefore should not be regulated under 
APHIS' regulations in 7 CFR part 340.
    As part of our decision-making process regarding the organism's 
regulatory status, APHIS prepared a draft plant pest risk assessment 
(PPRA) to assess the plant pest risk of the organism. APHIS' draft PPRA 
compared the pest risk posed by COR121 maize with that of the 
unmodified variety from which it was derived. The draft PPRA concluded 
that COR121 maize is unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk 
compared to the unmodified corn.
    Paragraph (d) of Sec.  340.6 provides that APHIS will publish a 
notice in the Federal Register providing 60 days for public comment on 
petitions for a determination of nonregulated status. In accordance 
with Sec.  340.6(d), we are publishing this notice to inform the public 
that APHIS will accept written comments regarding the petition and 
draft PPRA from interested or affected persons for a period of 60 days 
from the date of this notice. The petition and draft PPRA are available 
for public review and comment, and copies are available as indicated 
under ADDRESSES and from the individual listed under the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice. We are particularly 
interested in receiving comments regarding biological or ecological 
issues, and we encourage the submission of scientific data, studies, or 
research to support your comments.
    After the comment period closes, APHIS will review and evaluate any 
information received during the comment period and any other relevant 
information. Based upon available information, APHIS will respond to 
the petitioner either approving or denying the petition. APHIS will 
post its regulatory determination on its website and publish a notice 
of availability in the Federal Register.
    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701-7772 and 7781-7786; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 
2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 26th day of October 2026.
Kelly Moore,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-22810 Filed 11-6-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P


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