On Thursday 29 April, the European Commission published its long-awaited study (https://bit.ly/3aQj1An ) on new genomic techniques (NTGs), which confirms that the current GMO regulation dating from 2001 is no longer appropriate for plants derived from these techniques (see EUROPE 12709/17).
It therefore envisages, without having at this stage a precise idea of the legal form to adopt, simplifying the authorisation procedure for some of these techniques known as mutagenesis and cisgenesis (which are different from the transgenesis of conventional GMOs) for which the “level of risk” is deemed to be very similar to what can be obtained by conventional breeding techniques.
But the Commission also points out that there are questions about coexistence with organic and non-GMO farming, as well as about labelling and consumers' right to information and freedom of choice.
The representative association of European seed companies, Euroseeds , has welcomed (https://bit.ly/3331H6I ) the publication of the Commission’s report paving the way for the authorisation of NTG plants in the EU.
Euroseeds sees this study as a key step in bringing Europe’s legislation in line with scientific progress. But Euroseeds warns that this work “must not become a missed opportunity” and that the Commission and the Member States “must act now and avoid undue lengthy processes!”
The same is true for the EU’s agricultural organisations and cooperatives (Copa-Cogeca):
“If the Commission believes in its report, it must act quickly on the subject, time is running out”. Copa-Cogeca is calling (https://bit.ly/2Sh7VOn ) for the adoption of the “small regulatory changes” needed to ensure that techniques that do not cause problems are quickly authorised. The trade organisation says that most of these techniques “have been designed to help plants better resist climatic hazards, strong temperature variations or insect or fungus attacks which are constantly increasing”. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)