Ethical and Legal Aspects of Crops Engineering from Perspective of Civil Liability in Common Law

Over the past decade, the production of transgenic grains has attracted global attention through biotechnology. This study aimed to analyze the ethical and legal aspects of the crops engineering from the view of civil liability in common law. In this analytical study, published articles on the ethical and legal issues of transgenic crops were purposefully searched and reviewed, and then the arguments of advocates and opponents were analyzed in terms of civil liability in common law. Despite the burdens that genetic engineering of food products, genetic modification of crops could result in the production of high-quality types in comparison with traditional farming, increasing public availability, reducing the use of pesticides, reducing soil degradation and protecting living creatures within it. Therefore, the use of transgenic crops must be based on the balance of its benefits and burdens. One way to go out of this dichotomy is respecting the right of consumers to choose through labeling. Civil liability is a well-known course of compensation, but it cannot compensate all aspects related to this area; the legal claim in this regard is very costly and the result is doubtful. In addition, all subjects covered by the responsibility for genetic contamination and its effects are not defined in the law. The numerous ethical and legal challenges of the crops engineering and the creation of unwanted responsibilities for both the owners of these products and the traditional farmers, call for a quick legislative intervention in this area.