
Regulatory
We fundamentally believe in the safety, sustainability, and societal value of responsible plant breeding. Our non-transgenic forms of plant breeding — techniques that do not integrate recombinant DNA or foreign genetic material — are wholly different from genetically modified organisms.
As products of genome editing approach global markets, policy-makers and regulatory authorities are diligently developing and introducing procedures to clarify how these new products should be regulated. There is considerable intergovernmental activity to share learning and to promote a consistent, science-based approach to regulation that is proportionate to risk and facilitates international trade.
Regulatory Authorities have observed that many products of genome editing feature genetic changes that could also arise in nature or in conventional breeding. There is a growing consensus that new crop varieties that do not contain foreign DNA should not be regulated under existing legislation intended to regulate transgenic or GM crops. Many countries have introduced regulatory procedures for the products of genome editing and more are expected to follow.
Recent developments include:
USA
The USDA issued a statement on March 28, 2019 to clarify they do not intend to regulate products that could otherwise be developed using traditional plant breeding. The USDA seeks to allow innovation when there is no risk present, and has stated that plant breeding innovation holds enormous promise for helping to protect crops against drought and diseases while increasing nutritional value and eliminating allergens. → READ USDA STATEMENT
Associated Press - 11/14/18: The era of gene-edited food is upon us
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Global Engage - 5/4/18: To Regulate Or Not To Regulate: Current Legal Status For Gene-Edited Crops
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Recent News Highlights
Frontiers in Plant Science - 1/14/19: DNAFree Genome Editing: Past, Present and Future
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Scientific American - 9/5/18: GMOs Are Not Agriculture's Future--Biotech Is
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