Today, the ENVI Committee adopted the draft report of MEP Jessica Polfjärd (EPP, SE) on NGTs with a majority of 47 votes in favour, 31 against and 4 abstentions. Copa and Cogeca welcome this key vote, which brings the EU farming community closer to a position on the use of NGTs in EU Parliament.
NGTs (or New Plant Breeding Techniques) are part of the toolbox that enables breeders to speed up their programs and bring faster, better-quality plant varieties onto the market. When available in all sectors and regions, NGTs are a crucial asset to help European farmers facing the consequences of climate change. Today’s decision was therefore expected and welcomed by Copa and Cogeca as a whole.
Now to the details of the text voted on, we agree that certain NGT plants are conventional-like and must follow the rules of conventional seed breeding. Nonetheless Copa and Cogeca regret the labelling of seed varieties bags, indicating category 1 NGT, which is irrelevant provided that these varieties already have the full traceability through the plant varieties certification system.
Copa and Cogeca positively note the large majority of votes in favour of the compromise amendment regarding the exclusion from patentability.
Copa and Cogeca will continue to work with MEPS to improve the COM ENVI draft report ahead of the plenary session, of which the vote will take place in early February and hope that the NGT regulation will be finalised before European elections.
Fonte: Copa and Cogeca
