Saudi Arabia: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual
There are no significant biotechnology activities reported in Saudi Arabia in 2013/14. In October 2011, Saudi Arabia started the implementation of the Gulf Standardization Organization’s (GSO) technical regulations on imported genetically engineered (GE) agricultural products. The GSO technical regulations call for biotech labeling, if the GE contents in the processed or unprocessed agricultural products exceeds one percent. Prior to the adoption of these GSO biotech regulations, Saudi Arabia was implementing its own requirements for labeling food and animal feed products that tested positive for GE contents of more than 0.9 percent. Although the GSO regulations allow for the importation of biotech planting seeds, no Saudi companies have expressed any interest in importing biotech seeds. Saudi Arabia is reportedly ready to sign the Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
