Regulating synthetic biology by naturalizing it: the mis-classification of a GE mosquito

Abstract A recently developed genetically engineered (GE) mosquito with synthetic DNA has been categorized by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity as a synthetic biology organism. In contrast, a key regulatory agency has construed it as a natural biopesticide. This paper identifies the non-epistemic concern that appears to have motivated that classification decision. It is argued that the mis-classification of a product by a regulatory agency may mean that it undermines its own categorization framework.