Russia: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual

On March 27, 2020, Russia’s Minister of Agriculture signed Order #160 “On approval of Methodological Guidance for conducting assessments (studies) of the biological safety of genetically engineered/modified organisms used for production of animal feed and feed additives.” The guidelines became effective on April 26, 2020 and establish a process for registering genetically engineered (GE) events for feed use, making it possible for those events to be imported after registration. The existing mechanism for registration of GE products for food use is still in effect. Per Federal Law No. 358-FZ of July 3, 2016, Russia continues to ban cultivating and breeding GE plants and animals in the Russian Federation.