The European Commission proposed a revision of its rules on genetically modified organisms July 5 to loosen restrictions for plants resulting from newer gene-editing technology.
The EU executive said the move would allow farmers to secure access to climate or pest-resistant crops with less fertilizers or pesticides and consumers would be able to buy food with better nutritional value or reduced levels of allergy-causing substances.
The Commission launched a review of gene-edited plants in 2021 after concluding that GMO legislation from 2001 was “not fit for purpose.”
The EU’s top court ruled in 2018 that genome-altering techniques should be governed by existing GMO rules.
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The recent proposal would split new genomic technique (NGT) plants into two categories.
Those that could also occur naturally or by conventional breeding would be exempted from GMO legislation and labelling requirements. All other NGT plants would be treated as GMOs, requiring risk assessments and an authorization process.
The Commission said its proposal covered targeted mutagenesis and cisgenesis, involving either mutations within the same plant species or with genetic material from a donor that could be conventionally bred with the recipient organism.
Plants produced by transgenesis, involving genetic material from a non-crossable species, would remain subject to existing GMO rules.
The proposal needs approval from the European Parliament and EU governments to enter law and may be revised.
Bayer, the world’s second-largest seeds and pesticides maker, described the Commission’s decision as “ground-breaking.”
“Plant breeding normally takes more than a decade from the first positive research results to market entry. Gene editing allows us to cut five years out of this process,” said Bayer’s head of sustainability Matthias Berninger, adding that the expected revision should speed up development.
Environmental groups and the organic market, however, say NGT plants involve genetic modification and should be carefully controlled.
A report for the European Green Party warned of higher prices and less diversity of seeds. Many GMO modifications are designed to resist herbicides, raising concern that this would lead to an increase in use of those products.
Organic certification bodies in both the EU and Canada ban gene-edited crops, the Co-operator reported in early June, and loosened regulations surrounding those crops has raised concern around organic crop integrity preservation from the sector.
“Consumers have the right to know what they buy and if they don’t like it, they have to have the right not to buy it also,” said Helene Schmutzler, a policy assistant with umbrella industry group, IFOAM Organics Europe.
In an interview with the Co-operator, Schmutzler said identification and traceability of NGTs is critical to policy. Her organization has also been calling for compensation measures should non-gene-edited crops become accidently contaminated.
In Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced in May that gene-edited crops would face a similar level of regulation to conventionally bred varieties, rather than the more stringent rules around GMOs. – With files from Geralyn Wichers
