Browse Data and Analysis

Türkiye’s Biosafety Law continues to threaten imports and imposes a heavy financial burden on the country’s agri-food sector. The number of approved of genetically engineered (GE) events remains arbitrarily fixed at 36 and only includes traits in corn and soy for feed use. There are no approvals for food use due to public sensitivities about the technology.

Bolivia announced on October 19 the approval of Intacta, a new biotech soybean variety with insect resistant Bt and glyphosate resistant traits. Intense drought and more unpredictable weather are disrupting Bolivian farmer livelihoods and they see the Intacta approval as one helpful step towards improved crop productivity and environmental resilience.

On June 28, 2024, the Turkish government published biosafety decisions reapproving the import of seven genetically engineered (GE) corn events for feed (Bt11, DAS1507, DAS59122, NK603, GA21, MON89034, MON88017) which had expired, and provided new approvals for three enzymes produced from GE-Aspergillius oryzae for industrial purposes.

While Colombia´s regulatory environment remains friendly toward the adoption of biotechnology-derived crops and products, congressional anti-biotechnology initiatives pose a threat to further acceptance, and risk undermining future investments to benefit consumers and the agricultural sector.

On December 30, 2022, the Turkish Government published a Biosafety Decision to reapprove the import of a genetically engineered (GE) stacked corn event, NK603 X MON 810, for feed. In a separate government action, the single event MON 810 was canceled due to a recent court decision. With these latest changes, the total number of approved GE events remains at 36.

Turkey published its Biosafety Law and implementing regulations in 2010. This legislation has continued to disrupt trade and Turkey’s domestic agriculture and food sectors. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is the sole authority for biotechnology approvals. The Ministry approved seven genetically engineered soybean and corn events in 2022.

On February 27, 2021, the Turkish Government published the Biosafety Decisions on import of genetically engineered (GE) soybean and corn events in the Official Gazette.

On January 23, 2021, the Turkish Government published the Biosafety Decisions on import of genetically engineered (GE) soybean and corn events in the Official Gazette.

Turkey published its Biosafety Law and implementing regulations in 2010. This legislation has continued to disrupt trade and Turkey’s domestic agriculture and food sectors.

On May 6, 2020, the Turkish Government published Biosafety Decisions on production of three enzymes using Aspergillus oryzae improved by modern biotechnological methods, for industrial usage purposes.

Turkey published its Biosafety Law and implementing regulations in 2010.

The Government of Bolivia approved two new genetically engineered events for soybeans in April 2019.