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DARWIN Report highlights national differences in the regulation of NGTs

The new report "International policies and global trade of GMO/NGTs", produced at the Universidad Nacional de Rosario in Argentina as part of the DARWIN project, shows what these affects are and what the different approaches look like.

Different ways of national NGT regulation

According to the report, approaches to regulating NGT products vary from country to country. Four categories of countries are identified, which differ in terms of the scope of their legal regulations for the commercial use of NGTs.

Four categories of NGT regulations worldwide

In some countries, NGT products are legally classified as genetically modified organisms (GMOs); the legal framework for NGTs and GMOs is identical in this category. This is the case in South Africa and New Zealand, for example, but to date, the EU has also followed a similar approach.

A second category includes countries where the legal framework for NGTs is similar to that for GMOs, but is partially simplified in terms of procedure. This is the case in India, Bangladesh, China and Russia.

A further category includes countries whose legal framework allows certain NGTs not to be classified as GMOs and to be subject to significantly simplified regulations, but where the commercial release of NGTs is subject to prior approval by a public institution. Japan and most Central and Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala and Paraguay), for example, exempt some NGT products without foreign DNA from GMO laws.

A fourth category comprises countries where NGTs are not considered GMOs and commercial release does not require government approval. In Australia and Canada, for example, certain methods (in particular the so-called "SDN-1 techniques") are subject to only limited oversight.

International trade in NGTs restricted

The diversity of regulatory models also has an impact on the international commodity trade. According to the report, only a few countries have lowered the legal requirements for NGT products. Numerous debates on international biosafety agreements involving many countries show how difficult it is for individual countries to proceed alone in this area. Authors Nicolas Defarge and Gustavo R. Rodríguez conclude that "harmonisation of legislation remains a challenge, particularly in the context of the global commodity trade. Ongoing debates in several countries suggest that future changes could affect not only scientific progress, but also market access and public confidence in biotechnology."

NGTs hardly possible to become a global market trend

This means that a new global market for NGTs is out of the question – quite the contrary. This is also confirmed by the "New GMOs Market Report" recently published by the European Non-GMO Industry Association (ENGA) and the U.S. Non-GMO Project. According to the report, there are currently only three NGT plants on the market worldwide, with 49 in the development stage. The first two NGT plants to reach market maturity have already been withdrawn from the market due to their failure.

EU DARWIN project develops methods for NGT detection and traceability

The DARWIN project unites scientists from various institutions across Europe to develop detection methods for plant-based NGT products. Fifteen organisations from 11 countries are involved in the EU-funded project. VLOG is also participating. The planned new methods will not only make it possible to detect already known DNA sequences (specific detection), but also to identify the method used to produce the DNA changes (non-specific detection). In addition, DARWIN aims to develop digital solutions for traceability.

DARWIN: International policies and global trade of GMO/NGTs

ENGA: New GMOs Market Report: New GMOs in Cultivation, in Development, withdrawn from the Market

New research on genetic engineering transparency: No more excuses for deregulation