| The following GAIN reports were released on December 29, 2025. _______ Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) "Law on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)" allows the import of genetically engineered (GE) products. However, the only GE product approved for import is soybean meal for animal feed. BiH relies on the European Union's policies and scientific opinions to inform its decisions on biotechnology. The European Union (EU) follows a complex, rolling system of review for active ingredients and Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) in food. For agricultural inputs, U.S. farmers must know early in the process of review to prevent or mitigate the loss of, and/or access to, chemical inputs. The information in this document provides interested stakeholders with advance notice of those active ingredients under review, highlighting those substances undergoing new restrictions or may not be renewed. This is a quarterly update from September 2023. Kazakhstan has not announced any changes to its biotechnology policies. Major challenges like climate change, variable weather, monocropping wheat, and the reliance on Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member biotechnology regulations could be a future catalyst for Kazakhstan to develop its own biotechnology law. Kazakhstan continues to rely on EAEU regulations in lieu of having its own national standards. While Kazakh researchers have had some success in developing new genetically engineered (GE) varietals, the lack of regulatory clarity in Kazakhstan prevents commercialization.? On Friday, March 7, 2025, Kenya's Court of Appeal halted the government's initiative to permit the trade and cultivation of genetically engineered (GE) products, pending the full hearing of an appeal filed by the Kenya Peasants League, and other opponents of GE technology. A new case challenging the constitutionality of the Biosafety Act of 2009 has also been filed in a Kisumu court and is scheduled to be heard on November 20, 2025. This court has granted the petitioners' request to halt the commercialization of Bt corn until the case is fully heard and decided. Despite the ongoing biotechnology court cases, the current Kenyan executive branch supports the use of genetic engineering technology to address food security and climate change challenges. The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) is developing additional pod borer resistant (PBR) cowpea and TELA Maize varieties for Nigeria. The newly developed TELA Maize hybrids are undergoing national performance trials, with commercial release in Nigeria potentially planned for 2026. The optimistic market response to TELA Maize after the first set of commercial releases suggests the potential for continued progress in adoption by producers in Nigeria. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's (KSA) regulations allow the importation of biotech plant products, but they must be labeled if they contain more than 1% genetically engineered (GE) plant ingredients. As a result, many retail packaged food importers do not import biotech foods because they fear that biotech labeling could damage their image. However, Saudi Arabia imports large quantities of biotech U.S. corn and soybeans. KSA, as well as Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO) regulations, prohibit the import of genetically modified animals, birds, and fish. Biotech planting seeds are permitted for import, but there are currently no ongoing commercial development activities for GE plants in Saudi Arabia. Tunisia is continuing to postpone non-urgent matters in front of major political and economic reforms. As a result, Tunisia's biotechnology framework remains on hold with no timeframe for a review and parliamentary vote. Tunisia currently places no restrictions on the importation of genetically engineered (GE) crops. However, Tunisian agricultural biotechnology activities remain limited to building scientific capacity. No GE products have been developed or commercialized for local production. Over the past decade, the UAE has strengthened its plant and animal biotechnology sector through institutions such as ICBA, Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering, and Khalifa University, focusing on crop resilience, genetics, and genomics. Notable achievements include salt-tolerant quinoa, large-scale date palm tissue culture, and falcon genomics, supported by genebanks, seed conservation, and international collaborations. Federal Law No.9 of 2020 oversees genetically engineered products and labeling, helping advance sustainable agriculture and food security. For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/. | 
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