On April 8, 2025, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) National Crop Variety Registration Committee (CNCVRC) published a third variety registration list for genetically modified (GM) corn and soybeans.
The Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) of the Government of Japan (GOJ) convened a meeting of the “Food Sanitation Standards Council, Newly Developed Food Investigation Committee” on February 21, 2025, to discuss the establishment of food safety standards for cell cultured foods.
Two years after the primary Precision Breeding legislation was passed, the UK government has published the secondary legislation needed to implement it.
Attaché Report (GAIN)

Japan: Japan Gives Green Light to Genome Edited Potato

In October 2024, the Government of Japan (GOJ) added a genome edited potato to the list of genome edited products not subject to regulations for genetically engineered food and feed.
On Friday, March 7, 2025, Kenya’s Court of Appeal put a hold on the trade and cultivation of genetically engineered (GE) products until an appeal filed by the Kenya Peasants League is fully heard.
On March 17, 2025, Mexico adopted a constitutional amendment banning domestic cultivation of “genetically modified” corn
In February 2025, Ethiopia’s National Variety Release Committee (NVRC) approved the commercial release of three TELA maize hybrid varieties.
On March 1, 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MinAF) published two Biosafety Decisions on the production of two more enzymes using Aspergillus oryzae improved by modern biotechnological methods.
Attaché Report (GAIN)

Portugal: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual

This report describes the agricultural biotechnology sector in Portugal, covering production and trade, policy, and marketing aspects. It includes topics related to plant, animal, and microbial biotechnology.
The New Zealand government has introduced the Gene Technology Bill 2024, aiming to establish a modern regulatory framework for gene technology and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
On December 31, 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) announced the issuance of new and renewed biosafety certificates for genetically engineered (GE) events.