The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, China’s National Crop Variety Registration Committee (CNCVRC) published the third list of genetically modified (GM) maize and soybean varieties that passed the preliminary CNCVRC review for cultivation, the yield performance and suitable planting regions of these varieties. The public comment period for the announcement is 30 days, or until May 9, 2025.
In contrast to other regulatory systems, in China a biotechnology event introduced in one of the five major crops (maize, soybeans, cotton, rice, and wheat) may be approved for cultivation by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), but it cannot be commercialised until the event in combination with a variety is approved for cultivation.
Beijing’s inaugural GM maize and soybean variety registration list was published for comment in October 2023 and finalised in December 2023; its second list was published for comment in March 2024 and finalised in October 2024. Together, China has approved a total of 64 GM maize varieties and 17 GM soybean varieties. USDA report is attached.
The following day on April 9, the European Commission authorised three new GM maize events for import and use in food and feed. These authorisations were for: MON 94804, DP 910521 and MON 95275.
These were the first GM events that were authorised by the new College of Commissioners, which took office in November 2024.
The European Commission stated: “These maize have gone through a comprehensive and stringent assessment procedure, which ensures a high level of protection of human and animal health, and of the environment. The Commission’s decisions only allow these genetically modified maize to be imported for use in food and animal feed, but not to be cultivated in the EU.
“The authorisations are valid for 10 years, and any product produced from these genetically modified maize will be subject to the EU’s strict labelling and traceability rules. The Commission had a legal obligation to decide on these authorisations after Member States did not reach a qualified majority either in favour or against the authorisation. More information on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in the EU is available online.”
In a related development, Switzerland’s Federal Council on April 2 released a proposal for the Breeding Technologies Act (BTA) to ease restrictions on plants developed through new genomic techniques such as CRISPR. The bill also aims to strengthen Switzerland’s position as a hub for agricultural innovation and cultivation.
Under the current law, these plants are treated identically to those developed through conventional genetic engineering. They are subject to the strict provisions of the Genetic Engineering Act (GEA), including the ongoing moratorium on cultivation in Switzerland. The new proposal marks a shift in the country’s regulatory landscape and introduces a risk-based authorization system that will reflect the potential of new breeding technologies (NBTs) and the need for appropriate safeguards.
The draft BTA aims to simplify the authorisation process for plants developed through NBTs compared to the existing GEA. Comparability-based authorisation offers a streamlined route, waiving the complex environmental risk assessment if the new plant’s biological properties and genetic modifications are comparable to an already authorised plant.
Switzerland is NOT part of the European Union, but this proposal mirror’s the proposed EU Regulation on New Genetic Techniques, which is now in the final stages of the decision-making process. The draft BTA must first undergo a full legislative process. It has now entered a consultation period until July 8, 2025, to allow stakeholders to provide their support or concerns.