Worldwide, over 25,000 field safety and production trials have been conducted on more than 60 genetically engineered plants and animals in 45 countries. In the U.S. alone, over 6,500 field tests of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been conducted at some 18,000 sites. Last year, 74% of the soybeans, 71% of the cotton, and 32% of the corn planted in the U.S. were GMO varieties.

Which regulatory agencies are responsible for ensuring the safety of these GMOs? How are their regulatory decisions made?

This web site is designed to help provide answers to these questions and necessary background information to understand the process of gene engineering and the available data relating to the safety of GMOs and the risk assessment questions asked. The site has several levels, with each level containing increasing detail on particular topics. By clicking on the site navigation buttons to the left, you will first find summaries of general areas of risk/safety assessment written by experts in the fields, followed by links to comprehensive expert reviews, together with citations of primary literature.