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This report describes production, trade, research, policy, and marketing issues of genetically engineered (GE) plants, animal products, and microbial biotechnology in Italy. Despite Italy’s opposition to GE products, the Italian Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry Policies, along with leading farmers’ associations (Coldiretti, Confagricoltura, and Cia), agri-food industry players, and scientists have come forward in favor of innovative biotechnologies, such as genome editing.

This year’s report does not contain significant changes from last year’s report. Chile continues allowing the reproduction of seeds under strict control of the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) of the Ministry of Agriculture.

With international funding to develop and implement biosafety regulatory systems drying up in 2019, Caribbean biosafety regulatory efforts remain in idle mode. The region is seeking further funding from the United Nations Environmental Program/Global...

In September 2022, Tanzania’s Ministry of Agriculture directed the Tanzania Agriculture Research Institute (TARI) to identify a research station for trials of genetically engineered (GE) crops. This decision appears to reverse the Government of Tanzania’s (GoT) 2021 ban on all GE crop research trials.

There is no legal impediment to the use of biotechnology in El Salvador. Genetically engineered (GE) corn field trials were successfully completed. Also, the Ministry of Environment completed the regulatory framework for the safe use and commercialization of GE products. A new government administration that took office in June 2019, has shown interest in biotechnology and how it can help advance agricultural competitiveness in El Salvador.

U.S. agricultural exports to Jamaica in 2021 totaled nearly $500 million, making the United States a key trading partner for the Caribbean nation. Currently, some U.S. exported livestock feed inputs and intermediate foods to Jamaica are produced using biotechnological methods. Jamaica recently approved a national Biosafety Policy which will guide how biotechnology and biosafety is utilized in the country.

Agricultural biotechnology constitutes an opportunity for U.S. suppliers, as local non-governmental and governmental organizations have worked to encourage its integration into the Haitian economy in recent years. Although biotechnology remains a controversial issue among the Haitian community, Haiti depends heavily on imports from countries where the use of agricultural biotechnology is common.

The Dominican Republic continues to be a strong market for U.S. bulk agricultural products (e.g., corn), intermediate goods (e.g., Soybean meal), and high value consumer-oriented products (e.g., processed food products), reaching a total export value of $1.59 billion in 2021.

Croatia is a net food importer; government policy is geared primarily towards raising agricultural productivity and then controlling imports. Although Croatia has adopted the European Union’s (EU) biotech legislation, Croatia is a part of a group of EU member states that “opted-out” of planting genetically engineered (GE) seeds. Croatia believes its competitive advantage in agricultural products lies in seeking a premium for high-quality “natural” products rather than competing on volume.

Angola currently does not allow the use of agricultural biotechnology in production, and imports containing genetically engineered (GE) components are limited to food aid. In December 2004, the Council of Ministers approved Decree No. 92/04 restricting the use of biotechnology in Angola as a provisional measure pending the establishment of a comprehensive National Biosafety System capable of properly controlling the importation, entry, use, and eventual production of GE organisms in the country.

Though area planted with genetically engineered crops continued to fall in 2022, expanded operations of another cottonseed producer, opportunities to increase pink pineapple exports, and a new government opposed to ‘red tape’ could reverse this trend in 2023. While neither livestock nor other animal producers in Costa Rica appear interested in animal biotechnology applications at this time, a regulatory structure exists.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) regulations allow the importation of biotech plant products, but they are required to be labeled if they contain more than one percent genetically engineered (GE) plant ingredients. As a result, many retail packed food importers do not import biotech foods due to concerns that biotech labeling could jeopardize their product image. However, Saudi Arabia imports large quantities of biotech U.S. corn, soybeans, and their products.