Building upon initial consultations held in summer 2024, Canada’s Competition Bureau seeks public comments on new guidelines regarding environmental claims. Interested stakeholders have until February 28, 2025, to send their comments.
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.
In an evaluation of Dutch food policy published on March 29, 2022, Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Henk Staghouwer, proposed to explore the possibilities of introducing a meat tax in the Netherlands.
On June 10, 2022, the Dutch Minister for Nitrogen and Nature Policy, Ms. Christianne van der Wal, presented a plan laying out the objectives for Dutch nitrogen greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions. The plan included both national and area-specific objectives .
The National Health Commission (NHC) recently approved, in two separate announcements, 68 new food materials and additives, of which 11 are enzymes derived from Genetically Modified Microorganisms (GMMs).
Attaché Report (GAIN)

China: GE Soybean and Corn Variety Standards Issued

On June 8, 2022, China’s National Crop Variety Registration Committee (NCVRC) published “National Registration Standards for Genetically Engineered Soybean Varieties (Trial)” and “National Registration Standards for Genetically Engineered Corn...
On May 19, 2022, the European Commission (EC) approved two genetically engineered (GE) crops (1 soybean and 1 corn/maize) for food and animal feed. The two authorizations were published in the European Union’s Official Journal on May 20, 2022, and they remain valid for 10 years.