The European Parliament has approved the draft report of Jessica Polfjärd (EPP, Sweden) on new genomic techniques (NGTs) with 307 votes in favour, 41 abstentions and 263 against. This vote is seen by the EU farming community as a new step in the right direction. NGTs are among the practical solutions that can help our agriculture reconcile production and adaptation to climate change while maintaining cutting-edge research in the EU.
NGTs could no longer remain within the same regulatory framework as GMOs. The situation was understandable and anachronic from the point of view of science and farmers. The report approved today in Plenary backs up the structure proposed by the European Commission with a two-step approach on NGT plants. Category 1 NGT plants are conventional-like and must follow the rules as conventional seed breeding while Category 2 would still have to follow stricter requirements. For Copa and Cogeca, this balanced approach is the right one.
In more detail, Copa and Cogeca positively note the clarification on the verification procedure on NGT 1 plants and the adoption of the amendments regarding the exclusion from patentability.
As noted by Commissioner for Health Stella Kyriakides at the end of voting, it is now up to the Council to adopt its general approach so that trilogues could start rapidly. Copa and Cogeca are therefore appealing to the Council negotiators to swiftly find a position on NGTs.
Fonte: Copa Cogeca
