The U.S. Department of Agriculture has deregulated a genetically engineered corn variety designed to resist feeding damage from corn rootworm pests, clearing it for unrestricted cultivation across the United States.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced March 26, 2026, that it has determined Bayer CropScience LP’s MON 95275 corn poses no greater plant pest risk than conventional corn. As a result, the variety is no longer subject to APHIS regulations governing the introduction of genetically engineered organisms.

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The deregulation decision follows a review that included data and information submitted by Bayer in its petition, available scientific literature, and public comments collected in response to a July 8, 2025, Federal Register notice announcing the petition and a draft plant pest risk assessment (PPRA).

The approval of new biotech corn varieties carries trade implications that extend well beyond U.S. borders. In 2023, American corn producers were already grappling with an unexpected Mexican decree targeting U.S. genetically modified corn, a dispute that highlighted the global market sensitivity to U.S. biotech crop policy.

APHIS is publishing its Determination of Nonregulated Status, the full PPRA, and responses to public comments as part of the final decision record. These documents detail the agency’s analysis of potential plant pest impacts associated with the engineered corn.

The supporting documents and the Federal Register notice will be available on the Regulations.gov website beginning March 27, 2026. The documents can be accessed by entering “APHIS-2025-0021” into the Regulations.gov search field.