Browse Data and Analysis

Hungary regained its avian influenza free status on June 10, 2021, but the disease is now back in the country.

The steady growth of the tree nuts market in Bulgaria was interrupted in marketing year (MY) 2020/21 due to the pandemic and related economic challenges, such as the weaker tourist season and the closure of food service industry outlets during several lockdowns.

The United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union on December 31, 2020, and the Covid pandemic have both presented challenges and opportunities for the dairy processing sector.

The Ministry of Agriculture’s December 24, 2020, decree prevents agricultural genetically engineered product development, commercialization and import into Algeria. FAS Algiers continues to support biotechnology researchers through the Borlaug scientific exchange program.

In order to move forward in the area of agriculture biotechnology, Egypt needs a biosafety legal framework. The absence of a legal framework inhibits field trials, as well as the commercial use of genetically engineered (GE) crops.

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.

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.

The Dominican Republic continues to be a strong market for U.S. bulk agricultural products (corn), intermediate goods (soybean meal), and high value consumer-oriented products (processed food products), reaching a total export value of $1.4 billion in 2020.

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.

The Government of Bulgaria (GOB) continues to oppose agricultural biotechnology and supports anti-biotech policy initiatives within the European Commission (EC).

There are no significant developments to convey since the previous report from October 2020. Although Burma (also called Myanmar) does not yet have a comprehensive biosafety legislation, the final version of the National Biosafety Framework and Biosafety Guidelines are completed and pending approval.

Biosafety regulatory efforts in the Caribbean remain stalled, and it is yet to be seen whether countries can regain the will and secure the international financing required to fully implement their National Biosafety Frameworks in a harmonized manner.