On Wednesday 7 February, the Farm Europe think tank welcomed the outcome of the European Parliament’s vote on new genomic techniques while regretting the amendments aimed at “imposing labelling not only of reproductive plant material but also of end products containing these plants derived from new processes”.
For Farm Europe, the European Parliament’s position is good news, giving farmers new tools to adapt to climate change and use fewer chemicals (see EUROPE 13345/2). “Whereas the Commission placed category 1 NGTs on an equal footing with conventional varieties, the European Parliament requires these NGTs to meet sustainability criteria and undergo an environmental assessment before being placed on the market”, Farm Europe also complains.
The EU’s agricultural organisations and cooperatives (Copa-Cogeca) applauded “a balanced approach” reconciling “production and adaptation to climate change”.
MEP Christophe Clergeau (S&D, French) welcomed the fact that the European Parliament had adopted many amendments that will act as safeguards. “However, I can’t say that the text is balanced. The scientific method used to define category 1 NGTs is an essential point that has not been adequately resolved”, he said.
Link to the text: https://aeur.eu/f/arw (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)