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India’s fiber market is dominated by cotton, however, increased international demand for sustainable fibers is driving apparel and textile manufacturers to utilize hemp.

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.

In May 2024, Health Canada published guidance that clarifies which plant-derived feed ingredients require a premarket assessment, as per the Feeds Act and Feeds Regulations. With this third and final guidance now complete, conventional herbicide...

Sri Lanka’s agricultural biotechnology policies remain unchanged. Over the past year, there has been no progress in the approval of its draft Biosafety Act, which establishes a system to protect biodiversity, the environment and human, plant and animal health while minimizing the risks of biotechnology.

Kazakhstan has not announced any changes to its biotechnology policies. Major challenges like climate change, variable weather, monocropping wheat, and the reliance on Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member biotechnology regulations could be a future catalyst for Kazakhstan to develop its own biotechnology law.

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.

Over the past two decades, India’s political landscape continues to hinder the developments in agriculture biotechnology. Bt cotton (Bacillus thuringiensis) approved in 2002 remains the sole biotech-derived crop approved for commercial cultivation.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency published the finalized guidance document clarifying their position on novelty declarations and pre-market assessments for livestock feeds derived from crops developed through gene-editing.

On April 22, 2024, Canada announced the implementation of a Federal Plastic Registry to monitor the types and volumes of plastic products, including plastic packaging used in agriculture and food manufacturing, through their life cycle on the Canadian market.

Canada proposes a draft protocol, under its Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System Regulations, to incentivise feedlot operators implement changes to reduce enteric methane emissions from beef cattle, and to generate carbon offset credits.

India remains undecided on genetically engineered (GE) crops and products derived from biotechnology (biotech) for food and feed use.

On December 7, 2023, the Veterinary Service at the Ministry of Agriculture of the Kyrgyz Republic informed the U.S. Department of Agriculture in writing that they will no longer accept the U.S. Department of Agriculture's, Food Safety Inspection Service, 9060-5 Meat and Poultry Export Certificate of Wholesomeness. USDA is actively working to resolve this issue.