The European Parliament will vote on Wednesday 17 June, at second reading, on the proposal regulating the use of new genomic techniques (NGT) in agriculture (see EUROPE 13862/15).
Thirty-seven amendments have been tabled in the name of The Left (Anja Hazekamp), Greens/EFA (Martin Häusling) and S&D (Christophe Clergeau) groups.
The Left group is proposing amendments rejecting the EU Council’s position. The Left and Greens/EFA groups are notably suggesting reintroducing European Parliament’s initial position banning patents on NGTs (plants, genetic material and traits).
For its part, the S&D group is planning amendments aimed at protecting farmers, notably by excluding their liability in the event of accidental contamination by patented NGTs, as well as strengthening transparency, with the creation of a public database listing category 1 NGTs and their detection methods. Mr Clergeau is also proposing the introduction of a code of conduct on patents, providing for fair licences and non-discriminatory access for SMEs and farmers.
The vote in the European Parliament’s Committee on Environment will take place on 15 June, before the text goes to plenary.
Link to the amendments: https://aeur.eu/f/lzq (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)