In the United States, the safety management of GM crops is jointly overseen by the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US Food and Drug Administration, and the United States Department of Agriculture.

As the country having the most positive attitude toward promoting commercial planting of GM crops, the US has become the biggest producer of GM corn in the world.

By contrast, the European Union has strict laws limiting GM crops. In 2001, the EU revised its Regulations on the Safety Management of GM crops, stressing safety evaluations of GM products before sales are approved.