Three engineered pesticides can now be used in food without residue limits

US environmental regulators decided that three specific proteins, engineered into plants to act as pesticides, no longer need maximum residue limits in food. This means companies like Pioneer can use these plant-incorporated pesticides without proving a specific safe level for their traces in food.

This rule makes it easier for specific genetically engineered crops to get to market. It removes a regulatory hurdle for these particular plant-incorporated pesticides. This signals continued regulatory acceptance of certain biotech products as safe enough to not require specific residue tolerances.