The safety of products derived from modern biotechnology is a growing policy challenge, as genetically engineered crops are increasingly cultivated and foods and feeds derived from them are widely marketed. Modern biotechnology is used to develop plants, animals and micro‑organisms with novel characteristics, such as improved resistance, enhanced composition or adaptation to different environments. Ensuring high standards of safety for human health, animal feed and the environment is essential for sustainable agriculture, trade and public confidence.
To support regulatory co‑operation and transparency, the OECD promotes harmonised approaches to biosafety assessment and information exchange through its work on biotechnology and biosafety.
In this context, the OECD BioTrack Product Database provides regulatory authorities and other stakeholders with access to basic information on products derived from modern biotechnology, as well as selected products with novel traits obtained through conventional breeding or mutagenesis. The database includes products approved for commercial use in at least one country for food, feed and/or environmental safety and uses OECD Unique Identifiers to facilitate consistent identification and international information sharing.
