Plants produced using new genomic techniques [EU Legislation in Progress]

Written by Ivana Katsarova (2nd edition, updated on 15.01.2024).

On 5 July 2023, the Commission tabled a proposal for a regulation on certain new genomic techniques (NGTs). It establishes two categories of plants obtained by NGTs: plants comparable to naturally occurring or conventional plants, and plants with modifications that are more complex. The two categories will be subject to different requirements to reach the market, taking into account their differing characteristics and risk profiles.

Feedback from stakeholders is mixed. While industry interest groups have hailed the ‘game-changing proposals’ bringing innovation in plant breeding, the organic food and farming movement have criticised the Commission’s plan to take NGTs out of the existing legal framework, as it could leave organic food systems unprotected.

In Parliament, the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), responsible for the file under the co-decision procedure, discussed the draft report prepared by Jessica Polfjärd (EPP, Sweden) on 7 November 2023. The vote in committee is scheduled for 24 January 2024.

Versions

• January 2024: Plants produced by new genomic techniques (2nd edition)