Ahead of the upcoming EU negotiations on New Genomic Techniques (NGTs), Euroseeds — representing the European plant breeding and seed sector — together with Copa and Cogeca, the united voice of farmers and agri-cooperatives, is underscoring the need for a science-based and innovation-friendly regulatory framework for NGT plants.
In their joint statement, the organizations stress that the verification of NGT 1 plants must remain a technical and scientific procedure, focused exclusively on molecular and genetic criteria. They note that sustainability assessments fall outside the remit of EU co-legislators and are already comprehensively addressed through existing legislation on plant health, food and feed safety, and environmental protection, according to a press release.
The statement further highlights the importance of keeping regulatory requirements for NGT 1 plants to a minimum — particularly in the areas of traceability and labelling. According to the organizations, transparency is already guaranteed through official national variety lists, the European catalogue, and company catalogues, all of which enable informed decision-making without introducing unnecessary distinctions at the consumer level.
Euroseeds and the farmers’ organizations call on policymakers to adopt a proportionate framework aligned with international standards. They emphasize that such an approach would enhance Europe’s agricultural competitiveness, facilitate trade and research collaboration, and strengthen the EU’s capacity to address global challenges in food security and climate adaptation.
Read the open letter: Support for a science-based and innovation-friendly framework for New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) plants
