Browse Data and Analysis

As of July 2015, Israel does not have a policy that restricts the use of imported biotech commodities or derivative products.

Saudi Arabia currently adopts biotech regulations issued by the Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO) in 2011for imported food and agricultural products.

Biotechnology continues to be a politically sensitive subject in Morocco. In 2008, Morocco circulated a draft law to regulate the introduction, use, and marketing of biotech products.

The 4 GCC countries, along with Saudi Arabic and Bahrain comprise the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) allow the importation of genetically engineered food products of plant origin.

Morocco’s debate on biotechnology continues without much progress.

Jordan’s Ministry of Environment introduced a new draft biosafety law that would regulate agricultural biotechnology products.

Egypt was the first North African country to approve genetically engineered (GE) corn.

The Tunisian legislation on biotechnology, drafted before the revolution, has been indefinitely postponed.

There are no significant biotechnology activities reported in Saudi Arabia in 2013/14.

the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) allows the importation of genetically engineered food products of plant origin.