The genetically modified corn MZIR260, through the introduction of the eCry1Gb.1Ig-03 gene from Bacillus thuringiensis, has the characteristic of being resistant to black cutworm. This strain has been approved not only in the United States but also by the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Authority on March 26, 2025, for use in food, and it has been approved in Brazil for use in food, feed, and planting.
The genetically modified sugar beet KWS20-1, through the introduction of the dmo gene from Clavibacter michiganensis, the pat gene from Streptomyces viridochromogenes, and the aroA(cp4 epsps) gene from Agrobacterium tumefaciens, has the characteristics of being resistant to clethodim, glufosinate, and glyphosate, three broad-spectrum herbicides. The global approval progress of this strain is relatively advanced, with Health Canada approving its use in food in 2022, and the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Authority approving its use in food in February 2025.
The genetically modified cotton MON89151, through the introduction of the cry1Da_7 and cry1B.3 genes from Bacillus thuringiensis and the vip3Cb1.1 gene from Bacillus cereus, expresses three insecticidal proteins, thereby targeting the control of tobacco budworm, bollworm, and black cutworm, among other lepidopteran pests. This product has been approved in Brazil for use in food, feed, and planting, and it received food approval from the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Authority in March 2025.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, based on the materials submitted by the aforementioned companies, concluded that the composition, safety, and other parameters of these genetically modified products do not differ substantially from similar products currently on the market, and therefore their marketing does not involve pre-market review or approval by the FDA. However, this is only a key step in the commercialization of genetically modified products in the United States. According to the established "three-agency coordinated regulation" framework in the United States, the commercialization of genetically modified crops must obtain comprehensive approval from three federal agencies: the FDA is responsible for assessing the safety of their use as food and feed; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for assessing the safety of their newly introduced traits (such as insect resistance, herbicide resistance) on human health and the environment, and for setting residue limits; and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is responsible for assessing the risk of plant pests in agriculture and for approving planting. Therefore, the aforementioned companies have the responsibility to obtain all necessary approvals from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture before selling the related products. Additionally, the marketing of the products must comply with the labeling requirements of the "National Standards for Information Disclosure of Bioengineered Foods."