Champaign, Illinois, USA
November 27, 2013

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Biotechnology Regulatory Services (APHIS/BRS) has recognized one additional organization that has voluntarily established a Biotechnology Quality Management System (BQMS) to enhance compliance with the regulatory requirements for certain genetically engineered (GE) organisms. The organization is Illinois Crop Improvement Association, Inc., Champaign, Illinois.

According to CEO Doug Miller “It is no small achievement and we are proud to have passed the BQMS audit.” The association’s management and staff understand that they are caretakers of their clients’ physical and intellectual property regardless of how it was developed. “Preserving and assuring the integrity of seeds, plants, and information” is what we do says Miller.

For a complete list of organizations that participate in the BQMS Program and have met program requirements visit: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/biotechnology/bqms_main.shtml

By voluntarily adopting a BQMS, an organization can improve the management of regulated imports, interstate movements, and field releases through the establishment of document and record control, effective training, and continuous improvement. The primary goal is to proactively facilitate compliance with APHIS regulations. Each organization’s BQMS has been verified through third-party audits as conforming to the BQMS Program Audit Standard.

Website: http://www.ilcrop.com

Published: November 27, 2013