Systems to regulate genetically engineered plants: Similarities and differences among countries

IN 1986, THE UNITED STATES WAS THE FIRST COUNTRY TO ESTABLISH ITS REGULATORY authority for genetically engineered organisms when it published its "Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology." The global community has since then gained experience in the regulation of genetically engineered plants during the 20 years since genetically engineered organisms were first regulated, and a growing list of plants have been safely approved for experimental and commercial use. Yet, considering that human beings have been domesticating plants for at least 10,000 years, and systematically breeding plants for about 300 years, and successfully genetically engineering plants for less than 30 years, the regulation of this technology is still relatively new and continues to evolve with the science.