El Salvador: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual

In El Salvador, there is no legal impediment to the use of biotechnology for food, feed, and processing. However, no GE crops are currently cultivated. Genetically engineered (GE) corn field trials were successfully completed in March 2009. Also, the Ministry of Environment completed the regulatory framework for their safe use and commercialization in 2004. On April 30, 2008, El Salvador abolished Article 30 of the Planting Seed Law that required imported seeds to have a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating that the seeds did not contain GE organisms. El Salvador ratified the Cartagena Protocol in 2003. 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. However, there is a need to provide information about the technology to decision makers, specifically at the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment, so that it can be fully adopted.