Government and Regulatory Affairs
Agricultural Biotechnology

Representative Projects

While at BioTechnica International in the mid to late 1980s, David Glass obtained federal and state approvals for five of the earliest field tests of genetically engineered microorganisms in the United States. These were projects to field test recombinant strains of the nitrogen-fixing bacteria rhizobia, and these controversial projects included liaison to the EPA and state regulatory agencies, government relations in Washington and state capitals, and community and public relations programs to ensure local support for the tests. These tests were among the first to be regulated by EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Dr. Glass also obtained approvals for field tests of transgenic plants, and was active in federal and state policy discussions regarding "environmental release" issues.

Prepared reports for several companies and a trade association summarizing and analyzing EPA's 1991 draft proposed rule, its 1994 proposed rule and 1997 final rule for the regulation of certain microbial products of biotechnology under the Toxic Substances Control Act. Numerous presentations and publications on EPA biotechnology regulation under TSCA, USDA biotechnology regulation under the Plant Pest Act and other biotechnology regulatory topics.

Thorough familiarity with the USDA's biotechnology regulations as administered by the APHIS Biotechnology Regulatory Services division. Recent experience on behalf of Applied PhytoGenetics, Inc., in obtaining four USDA release permits (Nos. 03-044-01r, 03-058-01r, 03-099-01r, 04-058-01r), three extensions of these permits, and related movement permits, for field tests of transgenic plants for the phytoremediation of mercury.

Served on Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the International Food Biotechnology Council (1988-90), and directed that group's government and public relations efforts to support its report on safety assessment of foods derived from biotechnology.

Served on biotechnology regulatory advisory committees in two midwestern states (Wisconsin, 1987-88; Minnesota, 1989-90), and provided a U.S. biotechnology company with an analysis of the proposed biotechnology regulations in Minnesota in 1991.

Advised a U.S. company on the regulatory status of a novel chemical entity that had potential pesticidal properties.