Glossary of Biotechnology Regulation and Compliance Terminology

Plant Protection Act: A part of the larger Agriculture Risk Protection Act of 2000, a Federal statute under which Congress authorizes various parts of the USDA to regulate specific areas of U.S. agriculture.

Protein: A molecule composed of amino acids in a specific order. Proteins are required for the structure, function, and regulation of metabolic activities in the body's cells, tissues and organs, and each protein has a unique function.

Quality Management: A component of stewardship, which comprises the processes and systems to establish and maintain quality in each phase of the product life cycle.

Recombinant DNA (rDNA): The DNA formed by combining segments of DNA from two different sources.

Regulated: If a crop improved through biotechnology has not gone through the review process for USDA to determine if it can be safely excused from further regulatory oversight, it is commonly referred to as a "regulated article."

Remedial Measures: APHIS has authority under the Plant Protection Act to take or order remedial measures to address any known or suspected plant pest risk. This includes the authority to hold, seize, quarantine, treat, or apply other procedures, to destroy or otherwise dispose of regulated materials, if it is determined that such measures are necessary to prevent the dissemination of a plant pest within or throughout the United States.

Stewardship: Product stewardship is the responsible management of a product from its inception through to its ultimate end and discontinuation. In agricultural biotechnology, stewardship includes careful attention to the safety of products and their market impact is essential for high value products in any industry.

Transgenic: An organism that has had genes from another organism added to its genome through recombinant DNA techniques.