Guatemala: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual
Guatemala does not allow commercialization of genetically engineered (GE) plants. There is a “de facto moratorium” in place. The National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP), representing the Cartagena Protocol in Guatemala, continues its work with the Global Environmental Facility of the United Nations Environment Program to “strengthen” the guidelines of the Protocol. In November 2014, the Guatemalan Congress approved the “Nagoya Protocol for the Fair and Equal Participation and Access to Genetic Resources, and their associated benefits.” A biosafety regulation (led by CONAP) is presently under discussion, based on the 2014 National Biosafety Policy approved by Presidential Decree.
