On Friday 29 April, the European Commission launched a new public consultation on GMOs derived from new genomic techniques of targeted mutagenesis and cisgenesis, both for the plants thus obtained and for food and feed derived from these plants (see EUROPE 12801/6).
This consultation is open until 22 July to all interested parties to feed into the planned simplification of the legislation governing the authorisation of the placing on the market of GMOs in the EU (Directive 2001/18/EC), which the Commission considers to be unsuited to these new techniques (see EUROPE 12786/12).
“Innovation is at the heart of our work and we believe that modern biotechnology, including new genomic techniques, can help make agri-food systems more sustainable in the future”, reiterated the Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakides (see EUROPE 12936/6). She asserted that “the protection of the EU’s high food safety standards and the health of consumers must always come first”.
And to invite as many contributions as possible.
MEPs recently called on the institution to invest in research into the health and environmental safety of these new GMOs (see EUROPE 12887/6).
On the basis of the results of this consultation and further analysis, including an impact assessment, the Commission will continue to work on a legislative proposal to be submitted to the European Parliament and the EU Council by mid-2023.
To access the consultation: https://aeur.eu/f/1fd (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)