Why are GMO products banned from many countries?

Countries that ban GMOs received considerable attention in 2015, when a majority of European Union nations decided to block the cultivation of new GMO crops within their borders, and ... Many other nations – China, Japan and Canada for example – restrict GMO products, but only until they pass regulatory standards. read more

But products from animals raised on GMO feed do not need a label, so Europeans continue to use GMO corn and soy for animal feed. Very few countries explicitly ‘ban’ GMOs. In most cases, governments have simply not yet ‘approved’ various GMO crops for cultivation, or for import, or for human consumption. read more

GMOs are banned in Europe because people understand that they provide no benefits to the consumer. But they carry many risks. For example they pose unknown health risks to the consumer and they also eradicate natural diversity among crops. read more

A few years ago, there were sixteen countries that had total or partial bans on GMOs. Now there are at least twenty-six, including Switzerland, Australia, Austria, China, India, France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Greece, Bulgaria, Poland, Italy, Mexico and Russia. read more