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Two contrasting regulatory decisions by authorities in the United States and Mexico highlight the continued progress toward, and challenges to, the development of science and evidence based regulatory policies applicable to genetically engineered foods. In the United States, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the issuance of the Record of Decision as the final action completing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process associated with the 2020 amendments to the 7 C.F.R. Part 340 regulations that govern the interstate movement of certain genetically engineered organisms. The Part 340 amendments updated USDA’s regulations applicable to genetically engineered organisms that are subject to USDA’s regulatory purview to better reflect current scientific understanding of the risks posed by such organisms. Meanwhile, moving in a completely opposite direction, the Government of Mexico continues to lurch toward an effective prohibition on imports of some genetically engineered corn in accordance with a December 31, 2020 decree. The decree and possible consequent actions are based on assumptions and conclusions that are completely at odds with scientific evidence regarding genetically engineered foods.