Chile has taken a significant step toward consolidating the responsible use of agricultural biotechnology with the presentation of a proposed resolution that formalizes the technical procedure used to evaluate plant materials developed through New Breeding Techniques (NBT). The initiative is designed to provide greater legal certainty, strengthen oversight, and align Chile with the growing global movement recognizing these tools as essential for producing more sustainable, nutritious, and resilient foods.
The Ministry of Agriculture, through the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG), introduced the proposal to organize and make transparent a technical evaluation procedure SAG has applied for more than eight years to assess plant materials developed using modern biotechnology.
The objective is to clearly distinguish products obtained through NBT — methods that precisely replicate genetic changes that can occur naturally, without introducing genes from other species — from transgenic approaches, which incorporate genetic material from another species and are already regulated in Chile under existing GMO rules, according to a press release.
The procedure, which is mandatory and must be completed before any material is used in the field, enables SAG to evaluate developments on a case-by-case basis to determine whether they should be treated as conventional or whether existing regulations for Genetically Modified Organisms apply.
By issuing an official, transparent determination supported by regulation, the State strengthens health and environmental protection while building public confidence in the responsible use of these technologies.
Dr. Miguel Ángel Sánchez, executive director of Chilebio highlights that “the formalization of this science-based procedure, in force since 2017 and aligned with a global trend, will allow farmers to have access to better products, and will stimulate national innovation to achieve better food, strengthen food security and adapt to climate change. The use of these tools allows to considerably reduce the time and costs to obtain plant varieties adapted to different challenges and in this context, biotechnology has become a key tool for sustainability and bringing concrete benefits for farmers; especially small ones, consumers and the environment. It is also important to highlight the role of the SAG, internationally recognized for its technical rigor, which guarantees the safety and safety of these developments for the benefit of the country.”
Consultation Open for 60 Days
The proposal was presented during a meeting with key agricultural sector stakeholders, including ChileBio, as part of a broader strategy to enhance Chile’s capacity to produce food amid climate change, increasing environmental requirements, and growing challenges in food security and nutrition.
In parallel, SAG launched a national and international public consultation process that will remain open for 60 days. The resolution is expected to enter into force toward the end of May.
ChileBio Highlights Milestone for Innovation Governance
ChileBio described the proposal as a milestone in the governance of agricultural innovation. The organization emphasized that formalizing the procedure does not alter Chile’s existing GMO regulations, but strengthens clarity and traceability, and reinforces SAG’s authority to supervise and respond to non-compliance—supporting a system internationally recognized for its technical rigor.
