On Friday 14 March, the Polish presidency of the EU Council will submit a draft mandate to the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Member States to the EU (Coreper) with a view to launching negotiations with Parliament on the rules governing the use of new genomic techniques (NGTs).
The Polish presidency’s text takes account of a draft compromise presented to the EU Council working group on 21 February, which responded to concerns expressed regarding patents (see EUROPE 13587/8, 13576/6). Information on the status of ‘NGT 1’ plants would no longer be given only on seeds, but also in marketing documents (but not on labels visible to consumers).
Category 1 includes NGT plants considered equivalent to conventional plants, which would therefore be exempt from the requirements of GMO legislation.
In the event of a qualified majority in the EU Council on a common position on new genomic techniques, the Polish presidency would then have a mandate to begin negotiations with the European Parliament. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)