Browse Data and Analysis

Beginning February 4, 2017, Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety began enforcing biotech labeling requirements that were finalized on February 3, 2016.

Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (GCC-4), covered by Office of Agricultural Affairs in Dubai, permit the importation of genetically engineered (GE) food products of plant origin.

On February 14, 2017, the European Commission published a legislative proposal to amend the EU’s comitology rules (Regulation EU 182/2011).

Guatemala, at present, allows the importation of genetically engineered (GE) agricultural and food products, but has not approved the use of GE plants for agricultural production.

Brazil is the world's second-largest producer of biotech crops. Post forecasts a 10-percent increase in area planted to biotech crops in the upcoming 2013/14 Brazilian crop year (October-September).

Honduras is the only country in Central America that allows commercial production and field trials of agricultural biotech crops.

China is expected to remain a significant importer of biotech products and may become an exporter of biotechnology in the medium to long term.

Colombia continues to expand its biotechnology frontier. The adoption rate for biotech corn has surpassed that of cotton and the development of a regulatory framework is underway.

Kazakhstan's draft biotech law could remain stalled until the country's WTO accession. Meanwhile, new Customs Union regulations address labeling and import of biotech products.

In the EU, governments, the media, NGOs, consumer groups and industry remain conflicted about the use of agricultural biotechnology.

Recent high-profile activism against biotechnology has created uncertainty among those involved in production and research of biotechnology products in Costa Rica.

El Salvador has no legal restriction on the use of agricultural biotechnology. However the country's biotech regulatory framework is still being developed.