Reviewing South Africa's marketing and trade policies for genetically modified products

Abstract

South Africa is unique in that it has commercialised genetically modified (GM) crops and has a functional biosafety system, which allows for trade in both GM and non-GM crops, despite being surrounded by countries banning the use of GM products. This paper analyses the past achievements and evolving changes in marketing and trade policies for GM products in South Africa. A quantitative analysis of South Africa's GM imports and exports demonstrates the success of South Africa's flexible regulatory system. Yet a review of recent reforms indicates a trend towards more rigid trade and marketing regulations of GM products. This paper suggests five policy recommendations to improve rather than rigidify regulations and allow South Africa to adapt to global changes, manage risks and take advantage of potentially promising new GM technologies.GM products, international trade, biosafety, South Africa,

Balancing productivity and trade objectives in a competing environment: should India commercialize GM rice with or without China?

“…The assumed 5% value reflects the values seen in the literature and observed as a premium in the market. For instance, in South Africa, a GM maize producing country, non‐GM maize was sold at a 5% premium in 2007, to cover the cost associated with identity preservation (Gruere and Sengupta, 2008).…”