Jessica Polfjärd MEP (EPP, Swedish), rapporteur on behalf of the European Parliament’s Environment Committee on new genomic techniques (NGTs), believes that plants derived from so-called ‘category 1’ NGTs should be able to be used in organic farming, contrary to what the European Commission is proposing.
The Commission recommends classifying plants modified by targeted mutagenesis or cisgenesis techniques into two categories. The former would be considered equivalent to what could be found in nature or, produced by conventional breeding, would be exempt from the obligations of the GMO Directive.
The second would concern ‘NGT’ plants covered by the rules applying to GMOs.
Jessica Polfjärd proposes removing the term “genetically modified” from the definition of NBT. She also believes that category 1 seeds should not be subject to specific labelling.
Finally, Ms Polfjärd believes that the verification process for the marketing of NBT-derived seeds should be entrusted to the competent authorities of the Member States in which the application is submitted, without other Member States being able to challenge an approval decision without a reasoned objection.
“Every operator must have access to these new technologies. Freedom of choice is essential, and the technology must remain available,” the rapporteur argues. These proposals have been condemned by the European organic sector, which has been asking from the outset to be exempt from products derived from these NGTs.
Jessica Polfjärd’s draft report will be discussed by the European Parliament Environment Committee on 7 November. The deadline for submitting amendments is 15 November, with a vote scheduled for 11 January 2024.
The Agriculture Committee, which was consulted on this dossier, will simply be submitting amendments to speed up the procedure. The European Parliament plenary vote on the NGT dossier could take place as early as the session from 15 to 18 January 2024 (see EUROPE 13280/15).
For their part, the EU Member States plan to finalise a ‘general approach’ on this proposal by the end of 2023.
Inter-institutional negotiations could begin as early as February, but there will be very little time left to finalise a compromise before the European elections in June, given that the last plenary session of the European Parliament is scheduled for the end of April. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)