The European Commission has officially proposed relaxing the rules for certain New Genetic Engineering Technologies (NGT). If the proposal is accepted, genetically modified foods could soon be on the menu of the EU.
The controversial New Genetic Engineering (NGT) proposal was introduced on Wednesday (July 5) as part of a package of several legislative initiatives entitled “Sustainable Use of Natural Resources”.
New genetic engineering describes a number of new scientific methods for modifying genomes with the aim of specifically altering certain properties in plants. For example, plants can become more resistant to pests, which researchers hope will help reduce pesticide use.
“Farmers and breeders need access to cutting-edge innovation,” says a Commission press release. New genetic engineering is “innovative tools that help improve the sustainability and resilience of our food system”.
According to Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans, genome editing is an important element in the EU’s efforts to ensure sustainability and environmental protection.
“I want to make it clear that if we are serious about preserving our planet for future generations, if we want to be good ancestors, there will be no cherry picking,” he said.
What does the proposal mean in practice?
Specifically, the commission wants to divide the plants that have been created using the new genetic engineering into two groups: on the one hand, those that are considered to be comparable to natural or conventional plants and, on the other hand, those with “more complex changes”. “
The two categories would be subject to different requirements to enter the market. The “different properties and risk profiles” are taken into account, according to the Commission.
In practice, this means that plants in the first category still need to be registered, but are treated like their conventional counterparts.
Category 2 plants, on the other hand, are subject to stricter requirements under the 1999 EU directive on genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Labeling is mandatory for all genetically modified plants in both categories.
“Seed must be clearly labeled so that our farmers can choose freely,” Timmermans told a news conference on Wednesday.
Apple of Discord herbicide tolerance
Prior to the submission, herbicide tolerance was considered to be one of the most controversial issues to consider when designing the legal framework.
This aspect is about plants that have been genetically engineered to be resistant to chemical herbicides. This often leads to increased pesticide use – whereas the EU is really trying to reduce pesticide use.
In a previously leaked draft of the law, the herbicide tolerance trait was automatically placed in the stricter category 2. However, this reference was deleted in the final version.
When asked, a Commission official explained that the EU Commission believes the trait is “not a bad thing in itself” as it can also lead to reduced cultivation and thus contribute to soil health.
It was also decided that herbicide resistance was “not just an issue for new genomic techniques” but also for conventionally grown plants.
Therefore, the matter was addressed in a separate initial proposal, which includes additional conditions. This includes, for example, crop rotation obligations to deal with the topic “comprehensively”.
Legal basis unchanged
Despite the new proposal, the overarching legal context – the 1999 EU GMO Directive, which regulates genetic engineering – remains unchanged.
“We are maintaining the same legal basis that we use today for GMO legislation,” the Commission said. At the same time, it was said that products obtained with the help of new genetic engineering are GMO.
“They fit the definition of GMOs, we’re not changing that,” he said. The regulation is a “tailor-made basis” for these products, which “is largely based on the current structure of the GMO regime”.
Instead, the Commission’s proposal allows for “minor tweaks”.
[Bearbeitet von Gerardo Fortuna/Nathalie Weatherald]