Can You Import GM Soybean and Canola into Pakistan? The Rules After the 2026 Biotech Policy

Yes — you can import GM soybean and canola into Pakistan. Imports are permitted under a license from the National Biosafety Centre (NBC), which has granted GMO soybean import licenses to 39 companies. The Agricultural Biotechnology Policy approved by the federal cabinet in June 2026 removed the sunset clause that had capped GMO imports until January 2027, so licensed imports now continue without a cut-off date. This post walks through how the ban was lifted, who regulates GM imports, what the 2026 policy changed, and what feed and oilseed importers should do next.

What happened to the soybean import ban?

For nearly two years there was effectively no GM soybean moving into Pakistan. In October 2022, an import-license requirement for genetically engineered (GE) crops implemented by the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) led to US soybean imports ceasing — a de facto halt on GM soybean.

That mattered because GM soybean is primarily feedstock for the poultry industry and edible-oil crushing. The halt squeezed protein supply for feed mills and tightened raw material for oil crushers, pushing up costs across both chains.

The turning point came in October 2024, when the DPP implemented new guidance and authorized applications for import licenses for GE soybeans. Pakistan then received its first US soybean shipment after the ban's removal — 65,000 tons on 18 February 2025, with roughly 200,000 more tons shipping soon after.

Is GM soybean import allowed in Pakistan now?

Yes. Licensed imports are flowing again, and volumes are rising. Soybean imports for the 2025/26 marketing year are forecast to increase from 1.97 to 2.4 million tons, according to the USDA's oilseed and products update.

The recovery reflects renewed demand from the poultry and edible-oil sectors that depend on soybean as feedstock. With the regulatory framework now settled, importers have far more certainty than during the 2022–2024 halt.

Here is how the timeline unfolded:

Who issues GMO import licenses in Pakistan?

The National Biosafety Centre (NBC) is the regulatory authority overseeing GMO safety. It is the body that has granted import licenses to the 39 companies cleared to bring in GMO soybeans.

The NBC license is not the only approval, though. Importers still move through the standard plant-quarantine import chain run by the DPP. In practice that means the NBC license sits on top of the normal DPP permit and inspection process — both have to be in order for a consignment to clear.

If you are new to that permit process, our guide to the seed import permit and DPP Form-1 explains how the base permit works before the GMO layer is added.

What did the 2026 biotechnology policy change?

The most important change came in June 2026, when the federal cabinet approved the Agricultural Biotechnology Policy to regulate GM crops and imports. The critical shift for importers was the removal of the 2024 sunset clause that had previously capped GMO imports until January 2027.

With that clause gone, imports of GMO grains such as soybean and canola can continue without a cut-off date. As Profit reported, this gives long-term security to the edible-oil and poultry industries that had been operating shipment to shipment under the old deadline.

For a wider regulatory view of Pakistan's biotech direction, the ISAAA crop biotech update tracks the same policy developments.

What should feed and oilseed importers do now?

The rules are settled, but clearance still hinges on getting the paperwork exactly right. A GM consignment needs the NBC license plus the normal import chain, and the documents must all point to the same licensed entity.

Work through these steps before you commit to a shipment:

1. Confirm your company holds a valid NBC import license for the GMO grain you are bringing in.
2. Secure the DPP import permit and check that species, quantity, and origin match your contract.
3. File through the Pakistan Single Window (PSW) so the electronic trail matches the physical cargo.
4. Ensure the consignment paperwork — invoice, bill of lading, phytosanitary certificate — names the licensed entity, not a trading intermediary.
5. Plan for quarantine inspection and sampling at the port, and any required treatment.

That last step is where many consignments stumble. Our explainer on plant quarantine inspection at Karachi covers what officers check and why cargo gets held.

Olympic Agencies has cleared agricultural cargo — seeds, fertilizer, and agricultural machinery — at Karachi Port and Port Qasim since 1982. If you are importing GM soybean or canola, our team can align your NBC license, DPP permit, and PSW filing so the consignment moves without avoidable holds. See our seed import clearance service, and send your commodity and HS code to our team on WhatsApp for a shipment-specific check.

More on seed imports

• Importing Wheat Seed into Pakistan: FSC&RD, the Rust-Resistance Imperative, and Why Most Wheat Is Not Imported as Seed
• Importing Cotton Seed into Pakistan: the Variety Approval System and the Bollgard Ban
• Importing Sunflower Seed into Pakistan: the Oilseed Variety That Reduces Import Dependence
• Hybrid Maize Seed Import in Pakistan: Rules, Suppliers and the GM Ban
• Importing Hybrid Vegetable Seed into Pakistan: Tomato, Onion and Chili
• Rhodes Grass Seed Import and Cultivation in Pakistan: A Grower's Guide
• Seed Potato Imports from the Netherlands: Pakistan's Rules Explained
• How to Import Seeds into Pakistan — a Step-by-Step Guide for 2026
• Kharif and Rabi Import Planning — When Should Agri Importers Order, Ship, and Clear?
• Plant Quarantine Inspection at Karachi — What Happens and Why Consignments Get Held
• Seed Import Permit in Pakistan — the Complete DPP and Form-I Guide (2026)
• Our service: Seed Imports clearance →