The food and beverage industry is facing new regulations proposed by the European Union (EU) regarding new genomic techniques (NGTs) governed by GMO legislation.
Designed to leverage emerging technologies, the European Commission (EC) plans to categorize plants developed through NGTs into two distinct groups: those that are “comparable to naturally occurring or conventional plants” and those with “more complex modifications”.
The EC aims to update the rules and regulations for NGT plants, which currently fall under the same guidelines as genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The proposed changes seek to “better reflect the different risk profiles of NGT plants”, as stated by the Commission on July 5.
NGTs encompass a range of techniques used to alter the genetic characteristics of organisms. While these techniques were not in existence when EU GMO legislation was introduced in 2001, advancements in technology have led to the development of innovative NGTs over the past decade. The EC describes these techniques as “tools that contribute to the sustainability and resilience of our food system”.
The EC emphasizes the benefits of NGTs, including climate resilience, pest resistance, reduced fertilizer and pesticide usage, increased yields, and decreased dependency on agricultural imports. In comparison to conventional techniques like seed selection and crossbreeding, NGTs offer more targeted, precise, and rapid modifications while maintaining the same crop characteristics.
Under the proposed regulations, NGT plants deemed comparable to naturally occurring or conventional varieties will undergo a verification process based on specific criteria. These plants will be treated similarly to conventional plants and exempted from the current EU GMO legislation, meaning they do not require a risk assessment and can be labeled accordingly.
However, NGT plants with more complex modifications will continue to be subject to GMO rules, mandating a risk assessment and authorization procedure.
The GMO proposals have received a response from FoodDrinkEurope, a prominent industry body in the EU. The organization emphasizes the importance of educating consumers about the acceptance of new plant-breeding techniques. According to Director General Dirk Jacobs, a positive regulatory framework for NGTs would contribute to sustainable and resilient crops, secure harvests, and safe food products.
The GMO proposals align with the EU’s broader European Green Deal initiative introduced in late 2019. These proposals will undergo discussions within the EC and the European Parliament as part of the legislative procedure.
In a study conducted in 2021 following a request from the EU’s European Council in 2019, the EC highlighted that “the existing GMO legislation lags behind scientific and technological progress and does not sufficiently facilitate the development and market introduction of innovative NGT products”.
The Commission explains that humans have been refining grains, fruits, and vegetables since agriculture began. Through NGTs, breeders can now expedite and enhance this process using the plant’s own DNA or DNA from related plants, resulting in improved characteristics or the development of new ones with greater precision and speed than traditional breeding techniques.