EU: New Genomic Techniques deal set to boost sustainable farming

The European Union has taken a significant step toward bolstering the sustainability and resilience of its agricultural sector. Following two and a half years of complex negotiations, the European Parliament and the Council have reached a provisional agreement on the Commission proposal on a regulation governing plants developed using certain New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). The new rules will be enforced on EU-grown plants as well as those imported from other countries.  

The landmark deal aims to create a streamlined regulatory framework for innovative plant products, which are vital for adapting the EU agri-food system to climate change and increasing pest pressure. This shift is expected to facilitate the development of crops that require fewer resources like fertilizers and pesticides, while offering greater yields and enhanced resistance to environmental stress.

The legislators agreed on a tiered regulatory system for NGT products:  
• NGT1 Plants: These plants, which could also be produced through conventional breeding or occur naturally, will be largely exempted from the strict precautionary rules currently applied to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). However, criteria for NGT1 plants include an exclusionary list of intended traits, such as known insecticidal effects or herbicide tolerance.  
• NGT2 Plants: These NGT plants will remain subject to the full spectrum of existing GMO legislation, including mandatory full traceability and labelling. Member states will also retain the right to restrict or prohibit their cultivation.  

A crucial aspect of the agreement addresses intellectual property rights and patents. While patents for NGTs are permitted, the deal includes strong safeguards to prevent market concentration and ensure affordability. Notably, MEPs secured provisions allowing farmers to save and replant seeds.  

The European Commission is tasked with developing an EU code of conduct on patents within 18 months of the regulation's entry into force. This code will focus on licensing modalities under fair and reasonable conditions to enhance legal clarity for breeders.  

The new rules emphasize a clear focus on sustainability outcomes. The Commission and member states will monitor the long-term sustainability impacts of NGT plants.  

To ensure transparency, all plant varieties containing or derived from an NGT1 plant must be clearly recorded in official databases and labelled as NGT1 on seed bags, allowing farmers to make informed choices.  

While NGTs are generally excluded from organic farming, the regulation makes an allowance: the unavoidable, minor presence of NGT1 plants will not result in a violation of organic standards. The Commission will assess any potential burdens the regulation may place on organic operators.  

The provisional deal now requires formal endorsement by both the Parliament and the Council before it can enter into force, 20 days after its publication in the EU Official Journal, and it will apply two years later.  

Source:  

European Parliament