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Following the departure of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU) in 2021 there was optimism that the UK would adopt a more scientific and proportionate approach to the regulation of genetically engineered (GE) and genetic technology products.

With the notable exception of Bt. cotton, biotech products are not allowed to be produced, imported, or marketed in Kenya. On October 30, 2024, Kenya’s High Court is expected to make a ruling on the biotechnology case challenging the production and trade in genetically engineered (GE) agricultural products.

U.S. agricultural exports to Jamaica in 2023 totaled approximately $601 million, which makes the United States a key trading partner for the Caribbean nation. Currently, some U.S. exported livestock feed inputs and intermediate foods to Jamaica are produced using biotechnological methods.

The legal and regulatory situation to allow the planting of genetically engineered (GE) crops in Ecuador remains the same as 2023. Commercial cultivation of GE crops is not permitted, however cultivation for research is allowed and an exception exists for GE products without recombinant or foreign DNA in the genome.

Since 2011, Peru has continued its moratorium on biotechnology due to concern on its impact to the environment. The scientific community, however pledges to adopt it . In January 2021, Peru extended the previous ten-year biotechnology moratorium for another fifteen years.

Agricultural biotechnology constitutes an opportunity for U.S. suppliers, as non-governmental and governmental organizations have encouraged its integration into the Haitian economy in recent years.

The Dominican Republic continues to be a strong market for U.S. bulk agricultural products (e.g., corn), intermediate goods (e.g., soybean meal), and high value consumer-oriented products (e.g., processed food products), reaching a total export value of $2 billion in 2023.

Colombia’s agricultural industry widely utilizes innovative biotechnologies, and its regulatory environment remains open genetically engineered (GE) derived commodities. However, congressional anti-biotechnology initiatives continue to risk undoing decades of scientific advancement, undermining biotechnology development and potentially impacting agricultural trade.

Brazil is the second-largest producer of biotech crops in the world, with 131 events approved for plants. For the 2024/2025 crop season, FAS Brasilia forecasts 68.5 million hectares planted with GE traits. Adoption rates for soybeans and cotton reached 99 percent and for corn, 95 percent.

Since the previous report, Taiwan has granted new approvals for imports of genetically engineered (GE) products for processing, food, and feed use. Taiwan has never permitted domestic production of GE crops or animals. In 2023, Taiwan imported close to $930 million of U.S. crops including soybeans, corn, and cotton, accounting for 25 percent of total U.S. agricultural exports to the island.

In June 2024, the Nicaraguan Institute of Agricultural Protection and Health (IPSA) issued an executive resolution to strengthen the risk mitigation measures for the monitoring and testing of GE grains.

In 2024, the Pakistan government issued revised Biosafety Rules and Regulations, creating a system to request genetically engineered (GE) commodity imports for food, feed, and processing (FFP). As of mid-October 2024, importers had submitted several applications to import GE soybeans for FFP.