Browse Data and Analysis

Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the UAE (GCC-4) permit the importation of GE food products of plant origin.

On February 16, 2022, the European Commission launched a four-week call for evidence on an upcoming report that will assess the rationale and legal feasibility of applying EU health and environmental standards to imported agricultural and agri-food products such as animal welfare standards, processes, and production methods.

On January 24 and 25, Cairo witnessed an important forum on climate change between Egypt and the United States within the framework of Egypt serving as the official host of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) taking place in November 2022 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

Climate change is an increasing challenge for Austrian agriculture and Austrian agricultural policy. The Austrian government tries to counteract the adverse effects of the climate change through specific climate protection programs and measures.

On January 24, 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) issued Guidelines for Safety Evaluation of Gene-Edited Plants for Agricultural Use (Trial), which for the first time establish application procedures and requirements for gene-edited plants.

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.