GM: Is it too soon?: Global form guide

Galloping ahead

USA: Where it all began. Still has two-thirds of the world's GM crop area. Commercial release governed by US Department of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Agency. Food & Drug Administration approval for human food use is voluntary but all GM foods have sought approval. No labelling required, and Oregon voters rejected compulsory labelling in the first state referendum on the issue last November by 73 per cent to 27 per cent. But a national ABC News poll last month found 92 per cent support for a bill now before Congress to require labelling.

Argentina: Second-biggest GM crop area (23 per cent of world total). Regulations similar to US; no labelling required.

Canada: Third-biggest GM crop area (6 per cent of total), including maize, soybeans and canola. Labelling required only when allergens identified or food composition changed. But Canadian Wheat Board opposes an application to release GM wheat in Canada because surveys show that many European buyers and all buyers in China, Japan and South Korea would shun it.

South Africa: Fifth-biggest GM crop area (0.3 per cent of total). GM cotton, maize and soybeans grown widely and areas expanding. Draft labelling guidelines drawn up.

Each way bets

China: Fourth-biggest GM crop area (4 per cent of world), mainly cotton. GM cotton area grew 40 per cent last year. Big government investment in GM research. But labelling rules and import controls to allay public fears, and plans unveiled in February to make northeast China the world's biggest producer of non-GM soybeans.

Australia: Sixth-biggest GM crop area (0.1 per cent of total). GM cotton grown since 1996 and now accounts for almost 90 per cent of Australia's cotton crop. Federal Gene Technology Regulator Sue Meek approved GM canola last month. But bans on GM food production have been imposed this year by state governments in Western Australia and Tasmania (five years), New South Wales (three years), Victoria and South Australia (one-year bans on canola only). Compulsory labelling of all food with intentional GM ingredients above 0.1 per cent.

Cautious starters

Europe: De facto ban on commercial GM releases since 1998 until labelling and traceability regulations imposed. Strict labelling and traceability rules approved by European Parliament last month, with labelling compulsory above 0.9 per cent GM. Swiss Parliament voted in May to end a ban on GM crops, but the issue is expected to go to a referendum. British Government is sponsoring "national debate" leading up to decision this year on allowing GM crops. A government-commissioned science review found no adverse health or environmental effects to date, but cabinet strategy unit said consumer backlash outweighed any benefits in short term. Farm-scale trial results due next month. Cabinet expected to allow one GM crop, possibly maize, but not others.

Russia: No widespread commercial releases of GM foods, but Monsanto has run trials of GM potatoes, soybeans, maize and sugar beet and won Health Ministry approval for human consumption of the potatoes and soybeans. Labelling required.

Brazil: Second-biggest soybean producer after US, and biggest non-GM producer. GM crops banned under court injunction sought by Greenpeace and Brazilian consumer group Idec three years ago, but widely grown unofficially using smuggled seed from Argentina. Government due to introduce bill this month allowing GM with controls.

Japan: Compulsory labelling for foods above 5 per cent GM. Some retailers require zero GM. Aichi Prefecture ended joint research with Monsanto into GM rice last year and said it would not allow release of the rice. Protesters destroyed first GM soybean crop in May.

South Korea: Compulsory labelling for foods above 3 per cent GM.

Philippines: Approved Monsanto application to grow GM maize in 2001. Labelling required.

Thailand: GM field trials allowed this year on government research stations, but commercial release of GM crops still banned. Compulsory labelling of GM content above 5 per cent.

Indonesia: GM cotton released commercially in seven districts of South Sulawesi in 2001. Three hectares burned by angry farmers in September 2001.

India: GM cotton planting approved last year. India rejected food aid last year when aid agencies could not guarantee that it was GM-free, but decided last February to allow GM food imports "on a case-by-case basis".

New Zealand: Ban on field tests and commercial release of GM organisms imposed in July 2000, due to be lifted October 29. Compulsory labelling of all food with intentional GM ingredients above 0.1 per cent.

Scratched

Zambia/Zimbabwe: Both countries refused to accept GM maize from the US during a famine last year and have since destroyed GM food stocks. However, Zimbabwe "reluctantly" accepted GM maize later to meet a desperate food shortage.