Crop GE Regulations

Country tables of regulatory status

The following page provides a list of countries, organised by region, and their regulatory stance towards (1) recognising gene edited crops and (2) how they regulate transgene-free / precision-bred crops.

This page was last updated 2 weeks, 6 days ago.

Africa

Country Status Transgene-free regulation
Burkina Faso GE legislation implemented (case-by-case) Conditional conventional-like
Ethiopia Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like
Ghana Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like
Kenya Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like
Madagascar GE is not allowed GMO-like
Malawi Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like
Mauritius GE legislation under discussion Under review
Mozambique GE legislation under discussion Under review
Nigeria Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like
Rwanda GE legislation under development Under review
South Africa Regulated as transgenics GMO-like
Uganda GE legislation under discussion Under review
Zambia Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Draft conventional-like
Zimbabwe GE legislation implemented (case-by-case) Conditional conventional-like

Asia

Country Status Transgene-free regulation
Bangladesh Allows GE for cultivation (SDN-1 and SDN-2) Conventional-like
China Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like
India Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like
Indonesia GE legislation under discussion Under review
Japan Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like
Malaysia GE legislation under discussion Under review
Philippines Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like
Singapore Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like
South Korea GE legislation under discussion Under review
Thailand Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like
Vietnam Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like

Australasia

Country Status Transgene-free regulation
Australia Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like
New Zealand Regulated as transgenics GMO-like

Europe

All 27 EU member states are in transition under Regulation (EU) 2026/1388 on plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques, adopted 17 June 2026 and in force from 16 July 2026. Most provisions apply from 17 July 2028, pending implementing acts. The Regulation creates two categories: NGT category 1 plants meeting equivalence criteria are treated broadly as conventionally bred, while category 2 plants remain under the GMO framework with adaptations. It covers targeted mutagenesis and cisgenesis in plants only. Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland are listed separately, as the tracker records no corresponding instrument for them.

Country Status Transgene-free regulation
Austria In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
Belgium In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
Bulgaria In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
Croatia In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
Cyprus In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
Czech Republic In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
Denmark In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
England Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like
Estonia In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
Finland In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
France In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
Georgia GE is not allowed GMO-like
Germany In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
Greece In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
Hungary In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
Ireland In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
Italy In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
Latvia In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
Liechtenstein GE legislation under discussion Under review
Lithuania In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
Luxembourg In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
Malta In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
Moldova GE is not allowed GMO-like
Netherlands In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
Northern Ireland Regulated as transgenics GMO-like
Norway GE legislation under discussion Under review
Poland In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
Portugal In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
Romania In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
Scotland Regulated as transgenics GMO-like
Slovakia In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
Slovenia In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
Spain In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
Sweden In transition for 17 June 2028 (case-by-case) Conventional-like
Switzerland GE legislation under discussion Under review
Wales Regulated as transgenics GMO-like

Middle East

Country Status Transgene-free regulation
Israel Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like

North America

Country Status Transgene-free regulation
Canada Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like
Mexico GE legislation under discussion Under review
USA Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like

Central and South America

More information on the details of the South American GE regulatory statuses.

Country Status Transgene-free regulation
Argentina Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like
Brazil Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like
Chile Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like
Colombia Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like
Costa Rica Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like
El Salvador GE legislation under discussion Draft conventional-like
Ecuador Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like
Guatemala Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like
Honduras Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like
Nicaragua Regulated as transgenics GMO-like
Panama Allows GE for cultivation on application process Conditional conventional-like
Paraguay Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like
Peru Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Conventional-like
Uruguay Allows GE for cultivation, import and export Draft conventional-like