GM insect pests under the Brazilian regulatory framework: development and perspectives

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Regulatory Science
• Risk Assessment

Background:

• Emerging genetic modification technologies create novel products, particularly genetically modified insects for public health and agriculture.
• Existing national regulatory frameworks may be unprepared to assess risks and facilitate science-based decision-making for these new technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss the development of Brazil's regulatory framework for modern biotechnology.
• To evaluate its applicability for assessing the risks of genetically modified insects.
• To analyze the political and stakeholder influences on biosafety legislation.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the historical development of Brazilian biosafety laws.
• Examination of the regulatory framework's suitability for genetically modified insect risk assessment.
• Discussion of political dynamics and stakeholder interests shaping biotechnology regulation.

Main Results:

• Brazil's regulatory framework, based on two key biosafety laws, was shaped by political decisions and stakeholder power dynamics.
• The framework's applicability to genetically modified insects requires careful navigation of political tensions.

Conclusions:

• Adapting regulatory frameworks is essential for adopting new biotechnologies.
• Engaging and empowering stakeholders who support science-based decision-making is critical for gathering support.
• Risk assessment must be the foundation for regulatory decisions to enable the use of new technologies.