(a) The regulations of this part apply to research grants awarded under the authority of section 1668 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, (7 U.S.C. 5921). Grants awarded under this section will support biotechnology risk assessment research to help address concerns about the effects of introducing certain biotechnology products into the environment and to help regulators develop policies concerning the introduction of such products. Taking into consideration any determinations made through consultations with such entities as the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Forest Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of Agricultural Biotechnology, and the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Advisory Committee, the Director of NIFA and Administrator of ARS shall determine and announce, through publication of a Notice in such publications as the Federal Register, professional trade journals, agency or program handbooks, the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, or any other appropriate means, specific areas of research for which preproposals or proposals will be solicited and the extent that funds are available therefor.

(b) The regulations of this part do not apply to grants awarded by the Department of Agriculture under any other authority.