Millions of agricultural producers from around the globe now cultivate genetically modified (GM) crops. In both the United States and the European Union, these crops and their food and feed products must be approved after evaluations designed to protect health, the environment, and agriculture. In the United States, federal agencies implement the authorisation process; in the European Community, both Community institutions and Member State authorities play roles. This article describes the comprehensive regulatory provisions that govern GM crops and their products under US and EC law. The article then compares requirements in the two legal systems, with a focus on the process of authorisation, requirements for labelling, and the exercise of precaution in the regulatory process.
Author Biography
Margaret Grossman, University of Illinois
Bock Chair and Professor of Agricultural Law, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
