Authorisation of genetically modified sugar beet KWS20-1

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/457 of 27 February 2026 authorising the placing on the market of food, food ingredients and feed produced from genetically modified sugar beet KWS20-1 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council

Update

The European Union (EU) has authorised KWS20-1 as genetically modified (GM) sugar beet. This authorisation concerns its use in food, food ingredients, and feed.

Impacted Products

Sugar beet, derived food and feed products

What is changing?

The EU has authorised the sale of GM sugar beet KWS20-1. This authorisation concerns its use in food, food ingredients, and feed. On labels of products containing this sugar beet, the name of the organism should be ‘sugar beet’

Why?

Following a review, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded that sugar beet KWS20-1 does not pose any environmental, safety or nutritional concerns compared to the non-genetically modified sugar beet reference varieties tested (EFSA 2025).

Timeline

This authorisation is valid for a period of 10 years (until March 2036).

What are the major implications for exporting countries?

Suppliers of food or feed containing or consisting of this GM sugar beet have long-term legal security for the export of these products to the EU market.

Background

A list of all authorised GM products can be found on the EU’s GMO register.

The authorisation of GM crops normally requires sufficient support from EU Member States (a qualified majority) to authorise or reject applications. In recent years, there has generally been insufficient support for a decision to either authorise or reject applications. In such cases, as here, the European Commission is permitted to authorise these products if EFSA has given a positive risk assessment.

The authorisation holder of KWS20-1 is Bayer CropScience LLC.

Resources

Sources