Browse Data and Analysis

The Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Food (MAGA) regulates Guatemala's genetically engineered (GE) plants and animals.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA) has a regulation in place for the approval of biotech crops.

Guatemala adopted science-based regulations for the adoption of agricultural biotechnology in 2018. These regulations were immediately challenged by activists but in 2021 the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court reaffirmed the legality of the regulatory process, paving the way for the approvals of the first applications in April 2021.

On January 29, 2021, the Court of Constitution dismissed an opposition lawsuit filed back in 2020 against the biosafety technical regulation approved on October 1, 2019 by the Ministry of Economy as part of the regulatory harmonization process with Honduras.

Guatemala´s regulation allowing applications to approve biotech seeds for cultivation entered into force on October 1, 2019.

On March 15, 2019, Guatemala and Honduras approved a harmonized biotechnology and biosafety regulation for Genetically Engineered (GE) plants, the first in Central America.

On May 29, 2018, Guatemala sent its draft biotechnology regulation to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Guatemala has a de facto moratorium on genetically engineered (GE) crops in place, but producer groups continue to pressure the Ministry of Agriculture to allow for the commercialization of GE corn...

Guatemala does not allow commercialization of genetically engineered (GE) plants. There is a “de facto moratorium” in place.

Guatemala does not allow commercialization of genetically engineered (GE) plants. There is a “de facto moratorium” in place.

Guatemala does not allow commercialization of genetically engineered (GE) plants. A “de facto moratorium” is in place.

Guatemala, at present, allows the importation of genetically engineered (GE) agricultural and food products, but has not approved the use of GE plants for agricultural production.