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Egypt requires a biosafety legal framework. Without one, the country cannot move forward in the area of agricultural biotechnology. The absence of a legal framework impedes field trials, as well as the commercial use of genetically engineered (GE) crops.

The Thai Cabinet has approved the draft Biodiversity Law in principle. The draft is in the legislative process and currently with the Council of State for review and approval on text. The Thai Food and Drug Administration finally published its two...

In the past year, there have been no major changes in Kazakhstan’s biotechnology policies, although the government may be making plans to regulate and commercialize agricultural biotechnologies. For the time being, Kazakhstan continues to rely on Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) regulations for guidance on biotechnology issues.

Turkey published its Biosafety Law and implementing regulations in 2010. This legislation has continued to disrupt trade and Turkey’s domestic agriculture and food sectors. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is the sole authority for biotechnology approvals. The Ministry approved seven genetically engineered soybean and corn events in 2022.

This report provides the latest status of consumption, regulation, public perception, research, development, production, and use of agricultural biotechnology in Japan. Japan uses a science-based process for evaluating and granting approval for import and production of genetically engineered products.

As of September 2022, Israel does not have a policy restricting the use of imported genetically engineered (GE) commodities or derivative products. There are no changes in Israel’s policy towards plant, animal biotechnology, and microbial biotechnology compared to 2021.

Tunisia postponed non-urgent issues throughout 2023 as major political reforms, including a freeze on parliament and a constitutional referendum took precedent. As a result, Tunisia’s biosafety framework, which was drafted in 2014, remains on hold with no timeframe for a review and parliamentary vote.

In 2022, after a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) completed the draft, the National Biosafety Committee (NBC) reviewed a policy on regulating imports of genetically engineered (GE) commodities for food, feed, and processing (FFP). The NBC sent the draft FFP policy to relevant Ministries for further review. Cotton remains the only GE crop approved for cultivation.

Morocco continues to import agricultural products derived from genetically engineered (GE) technologies for use in animal feed products. No GE products have been developed or commercialized for local production in Morocco. GE products are not allowed for human consumption.

This report includes information on the status of plant, animal, and microbial biotechnology in Austria. The nation continues to be one of the leading forces in Europe opposed to the use of agricultural biotechnology.

Guatemala adopted science-based regulations for the adoption of agricultural biotechnology in 2018. These regulations were immediately challenged by activists but in 2021 the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court reaffirmed the legality of the regulatory process, paving the way for the approvals of the first applications in April 2021.

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) allows permitted import of genetically engineered (GE) products based on the 2009 “Law on Genetically Modified Organisms” (“GMOs”) and its pertaining bylaws. To date, the first and only GE product approved for import is GE soybean meal for feed. BiH’s anti-GE border practices, which include random testing, can occasionally influence commercial imports of grains.