Genetic Engineering and Society Center

Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology

Abstract

“The definition of food law used to be a simple one – it encompassed food regulatory law with two main audiences: lawyers and the regulated food industries. Today, however, food law is often broadened in meaning to include all law related to agricultural trade, such as how food is grown, humane animal treatment, and environmental rules for farms and processors.” (From Food Regulation by Neal Fortin)

The development of genetically engineered foods created an even greater (and heated) discussion linked to several complex issues, especially safety in terms of consumption and the understanding of their impact on the environment. So, the question is: “How should these foods be regulated?” The United States takes a more relaxed approach compared to the strict rules of the European Union. Despite the differences, the final goal is the same: ensuring that foods entering the markets are safe for consumption. This presentation will summarize the main characteristics of the regulation of genetically engineered foods in the United States.

Related links:

• Fortin, N. Food Regulation: Law, Science, Policy, and Practice. Wiley, 2nd. ed., 2022.
• Roberts, M.T. Food Law in the United States. Cambridge University Press, 2015.
• Strauss, S., Sax, J. Ending event-based regulation of GMO crops. Nature Biotechnology, 34, 474–477 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt.3541
• BE Disclosure | USDA
• Biotechnology | USDA
• How GMOs Are Regulated in the United States | FDA (cont.)

Events & Announcements

In the News

How CRISPR could help save crops from devastation caused by pests

2/2/2023 - Emma Foehringer Merchant, MIT Technology Review

“Chemicals can only travel so far before they degrade in the environment,” says Jason Delborne, a professor of science, policy, and society at North Carolina State University. “If you introduce a gene-edited organism that can move through the environment, you have the potential to change or transform environments across a huge spatial and temporal scale.”
 

Blog: Reflections on COP15

1/13/2023 - Willy Wei, Nick Loschin, and Khara Grieger

GES members attended the recent UN biodiversity conference to better understand the impacts of biotechnology on biodiversity and conservation.

 

Experts from 14 Nations Discuss Global Gene Drive Project Registry

12/15/2023 - Yadira Galindo, UC San Diego Today

Reporting in the Dec. 15, 2022 issue of Nature Biotechnology, 47 experts from organizations spanning national and local governmental agencies, international and nonprofit organizations, universities and local district vector control offices advanced the idea that a registry could serve a valuable coordinating function for multidisciplinary and multisector work activities in the area of gene drive.

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Gene drives: Environmental impacts, sustainability, and governance

Gene editing and agrifood systems