Ensuring the safety of the food supply is a priority for producers and regulators alike. In the United States, three federal agencies provide work to provide a coordinated framework for the comprehensive review of all foods and crops developed through biotechnology.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reviews all foods on a case-by-case basis to ensure that they meet nutritional and safety standards. In certain cases, the Environmental Protection Agency steps in to ensure that biotech crops with built-in protection against pests and diseases has no harmful effects on human safety and the environment. And the U.S. Department of Agriculture approves applications for and oversees testing of biotech crops in the field. If the crops are approved, the USDA also oversees the sale of biotech seeds to growers.

Additionally, there is broad support for the current system of regulatory review and oversight of crops developed through biotechnology. Organizations including the American Medical Association, the World Health Organization and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization have endorsed the human health and environmental safety associated with biotech crops.

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