The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has invited public comment on Bayer’s application for the deregulation of its GM insect-protected cotton, MON 88702. Cotton varieties containing the event MON 88702 have been developed to produce a modified Cry51Aa2 insecticidal crystal protein derived from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that protects against feeding damage caused by targeted hemipteran (Lygus hesperus and Lygus lineolaris) and thysanopteran (Frankliniella spp.) insect pests.