Uruguay Presents New Regulation for Products Derived from New Genetic Techniques

In a new decree presented on March 18, 2024, Uruguay's Ministries of Environment and Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries announced that they will work together in the analysis of the New Genetic Improvement Techniques applicable to products or organisms, linked to agriculture, aquaculture, or forestry production and their derived products.

The new decree establishes the joint work procedure and the formation of a Technical Working Group (GTT) of the two ministries announced by Environment Minister (MA) Robert Bouvier and Fernando Mattos, Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP). The GTT will be made up of experts in molecular characterization who may come from the MGAP, the MA, and other organizations or institutions including National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA), National Seed Institute (INASE), University of the Republic (UdelaR), Pasteur Montevideo Institute (IP-Montevideo), Technological Laboratory of Uruguay (LATU) and Clemente Estable Biological Research Institute (IIBCE).

The GTT is in charge of determining, in a scientific and objective manner, whether a product or organism obtained through New Genetic Improvement Techniques should be considered within the regulations applicable to genetically modified organisms. Each authorization linked to the use of these new techniques will go through an analysis process, which will have equal participation of both ministries in decision-making.

For more details, read the article in The Genetic Literacy Project.