Guatemala: On March 15, 2019, Guatemala and Honduras approved uniform agricultural biotechnology regulations (safety technology regulations for agricultural genetically modified organisms), and in 2019 Effective October 1, 2016. On October 7, 2019, the Ministry of Agriculture of Guatemala issued Ministerial Decree No. 270-2019 (establishing the Guatemalan Agricultural Biotechnology Safety Committee) and Ministerial Decree No. 271-2019 (regulating experiments on the use of genetically modified seeds, the pre-commercial stage and Technical procedure manual for commercial use). The agricultural biotechnology regulations and related procedures follow the requirements of the WTO Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
United Kingdom: Although British Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated in his inauguration speech in July 2019: “Let the life sciences of the United Kingdom be liberated from genetically reversed regulations, and Develop anti-wilt crops that can feed the world”, but in any case, the UK will not change the policy or trade of genetically modified plants or animals in the short to medium term after Brexit, because the EU is still the UK’s largest trading partner, and the UK also Many EU food regulations will be retained for many years to come.
Morocco: The country allows the import of genetically modified agricultural products for feeding, but currently there is no commercialization of genetically modified products in the country, and no genetically modified products for human consumption are approved.
Saudi Arabia: The country’s regulations allow the import of genetically modified plant products. If more than 1% of genetically modified ingredients must be labeled, retail food importers are worried that genetically modified labels may damage them Product image, usually do not import genetically modified food, but Saudi Arabia imports a large amount of genetically modified corn and genetically modified soybeans from the United States every yearAnd its derivatives. Although Saudi Arabia allows the import of genetically modified plant seeds, Saudi farmers are not interested in this. Therefore, domestic companies in Saudi Arabia have not imported or commercialized any genetically modified plants. At the same time, the regulations of the Standardization Organization of the Saudi Arabian Gulf Cooperation Council prohibit the import of genetically modified animals, birds, fish and their products.
Argentina: The country approved 9 transgenic transformants in 2019, including the first transgenic soybean DBN 09004-6 developed by a Chinese company, updated by Argentina in 2019 Clarified its biotechnology regulatory framework: on the one hand, gene editing technology was included in the regulatory content, and the principle of case analysis was adopted; on the other hand, some regulatory procedures were simplified to promote its compliance with international rules, especially the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety Coordination. Argentine law allows farmers to preserve genetically modified seeds and does not provide intellectual property protection for genetically modified seeds. As a result, Argentine seed companies are reluctant to launch new varieties, limiting farmers’ access to new technologies.
Honduras: The country has established biotechnology regulations since 1998 and has a National Biotechnology and Biosafety Committee. As of September 2019, genetically modified corn is grown The area exceeds 37,000 hectares. El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras Customs Union approved a technical regulation on commercial exchange and safe use of agricultural biotechnology on March 15, 2019, which is mainly applicable to plant and animal reproduction, but specific procedure manuals and operating rules have not yet been formulated. The rule took effect in Honduras on October 1, 2019. In addition, the Honduran National Food Safety, Animal and Plant Health Bureau approved the application for gene editing through a simplified procedure in September 2019, which will help shorten the approval time of the application.
(Originally titled “U.S. Department of Agriculture Overseas Agricultural Bureau publishes annual reports on agricultural biotechnology in 7 countries”)