GMOs are actually much more regulated than their non-GMO counterparts. It takes an average of $130 million and 13 years to bring a new GMO to market, which involves a comprehensive safety and environmental review by regulatory bodies around the world. In addition to the review process conducted in the U.S. by the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration, other nations conduct their own rigorous certification processes and regulatory approvals. Currently, more than 40 agencies and 67 countries certify genetically modified products for cultivation, importation and/or field trials and testing. Unlike new varieties of crops produced by other methods of genetic modification, GMOs on the market today are tested for food safety, including for allergenicity, digestibility and toxicity. On average, more than 75 different tests are performed to ensure that GMOs are safe for people, animals, and the environment. The safety of the end product is what matters for the consumer, not the process used to get to that end product.
