Study: How gene-edited crops are regulated around the world

Frank Hartung, Ralf Wilhelm, Thorben Sprink | Plant Physiology | September 8, 2022

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To date, many countries have made decisions on the regulatory status of products of genome editing, by exempting some kinds of edits from the classical GMO regulation. However, the guidance differs between countries even in the same region. Several countries are still debating the issue or are in the progress of updating guidance and regulatory systems to cover products of genome editing. The current global situation of different regulatory systems is putting a harmonized framework on genome-edited crops in the far future. In this update, we summarize the current developments in the field of regulation concerning edited crops and present a short insight into perception of genome editing in the society.

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In Switzerland, the association “Varieties for Tomorrow” which is composed of various actors from the Swiss agriculture and food industry called for an open and differentiated approach to NGT in plant breeding. Furthermore, the Science Commission of the States voted for the first time in favor of GEd.

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In Canada, there is no separate GMO regulation, but there is a regulatory regime dealing with novel foods and with respect to risk assessment obligations with new substances notification.

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South Africa which was long time undecided on how to deal with GEd has announced its regulatory approaches for “New breeding technologies” through a public notice after a discussion on the GMO status of “NBT products” on October 27, 2021 (This is an excerpt. Read the original post here