As trilogue negotiations on New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) continue without resolution, Europe’s agri-food chain is raising urgent concerns. A coalition of 25 EU organisations — representing the majority of plant-based operators from input suppliers and farmers to processors and food manufacturers — is urging the European Parliament to avoid introducing new restrictions and to reach an agreement with the Council and Commission without delay.
With agriculture under increasing pressure from climate change, emerging pests and diseases, and a shrinking toolbox of crop protection solutions, innovation is critical. While nearly 30 countries worldwide already regulate many NGTs in line with conventional breeding methods, the EU risks falling behind. Supporters emphasise that NGTs can help deliver more resilient, resource-efficient and competitive crops, but only if backed by a clear and enabling regulatory framework, according to a press release.
The organisations caution that the additional requirements currently debated in Parliament — such as new sustainability criteria, traceability or labelling obligations, and expanded monitoring — go far beyond the scope of the Commission’s original proposal. They argue that such measures undermine the scientific foundation of the system, add unnecessary administrative burdens for operators and Member States, and risk creating inconsistencies with international trading partners.
While reaffirming their commitment to sustainability and to policies that foster investment, legal certainty and innovation, the coalition stresses that the aim of the NGT regulation is narrowly defined: to authorise plants equivalent to conventional varieties under comparable conditions, without layering on obligations already addressed elsewhere in EU law.
Their message to EU policymakers is clear: will Europe grant breeders and farmers access to the full toolbox of modern breeding methods, or allow the innovation gap with global competitors to widen?
With other regions advancing quickly, the coalition urges EU institutions to drop unnecessary additional requirements, conclude trilogue negotiations swiftly, and adopt a science-based, forward-looking NGT framework that boosts competitiveness, streamlines procedures and strengthens Europe’s strategic autonomy.
