EU clears four genetically engineered crops for import, extending approvals for maize and cotton

The European Commission has authorized four genetically engineered crops for import and use in food and animal feed. This includes one new soybean variety and renewed approvals for one maize and two cotton products. The decisions, adopted on March 10 and published in the EU’s Official Journal on March 12, are valid for 10 years and apply only to import and processing, not cultivation.

The approvals follow a comprehensive risk assessment by the European Food Safety Authority, which issued favorable scientific opinions on all four crops. As member states did not reach a qualified majority for or against the authorizations, the Commission was legally required to proceed. All approved products remain subject to strict EU labeling and traceability requirements.

The newly authorized soybean (DBN-09004-6) joins renewed approvals for maize T25 and cotton varieties GHB614 × LLCotton25 and T304-40. This is the second set of GE crop import authorizations granted by the Commission in 2026, highlighting the EU’s ongoing reliance on imports for feed proteins while maintaining restrictions on domestic cultivation.