Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

This chapter examines the legal frameworks governing genetically modified organisms (GMOs), focusing on their regulation as a confluence of food safety, environmental concerns and socio-economic interests. It contrasts the cautious regulatory approach of the European Union, which leans on the precautionary principle and requires stringent authorization, with the more permissive, market-driven US framework under the Coordinated Framework for Biotechnology Regulation. The EU Directive 18/2001 mandates risk-based assessments, labelling and traceability, while promoting consumer and environmental protection. Conversely, US regulators prioritize product safety without distinguishing GMOs from conventional products. The chapter discusses the World Trade Organization's ‘EC-Biotech’ case, which critiqued the EU's prolonged GMO approval processes as trade-restrictive. Additionally, the emergence of new genome editing techniques like CRISPR highlights the need for updated regulatory frameworks. The chapter concludes by emphasizing the fragmentation in global GMO governance and the ongoing debate between precautionary and laissez-faire regulatory philosophies.