In a contribution to the debate on new genomic techniques made public on 23 August, many EU Member States called for discussions in the EU Council to continue on the basis of the February 2024 text, which received the support of 17 EU countries.
In a working document dated 3 July submitted to the Member States, the Hungarian Presidency of the EU Council suggests relaunching the debate on the proposal governing the use of NGTs (see EUROPE 13451/7).
In their contributions to the Hungarian ideas, a number of countries, including Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, the Czech Republic and Lithuania, have called for discussions to continue on the basis of the February 2024 text, with a view to reaching a common position in the EU Council on the rules governing NGTs (see EUROPE 13440/22).
The contributions from these countries confirm the divergences within the EU Council on this sensitive issue.
Austria seems to share the Hungarian Presidency’s point of view, believing that “more time” is needed to examine various elements of the European Commission’s proposal, such as labelling or risk assessment of plants derived from category 1 NGTs (those considered equivalent to conventional plants).
Romania “welcomes the Hungarian Presidency’s initiative to open the debate on all the subjects proposed by Member States”, as does Slovakia, which is very reticent about NGTs.
Germany recalls the dissent on the subject of NGTs within the national government.
Link to contributions from a number of Member States: https://aeur.eu/f/d9m
International Non-GMO Summit
In addition, István Nagy, the Hungarian Minister of Agriculture, who is opposed to genetically modified organisms, has announced that he will be giving a speech at the International Non-GMO Summit (https://aeur.eu/f/d9n ).
During this event, which will be held on 7 and 8 October in Frankfurt (Germany), one of the themes to be addressed will be new genomic techniques and “their impact on non-GMO production”. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)