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OPINION (COM(2023)0411 – C90238/2023 – 2023/0226(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques and their food and feed, and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/625

AGRI-AD-757371

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development · Rapporteur: Veronika Vrecionová

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The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development proposes amendments to the proposed regulation on plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques, renaming them 'precision breeding' techniques and exempting category 1 NGT plants from GMO rules. It also seeks to exclude NGT plants from patentability, ensure free movement, and adjust verification procedures and labelling rules.

Committee position. The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development proposes amendments to the Commission's proposal, including renaming NGTs as 'precision breeding', exempting category 1 NGT plants from GMO rules, excluding NGT plants from patentability, and adjusting verification and labelling procedures.

Key points

  1. Renames 'new genomic techniques' to 'precision breeding' and 'precise' to 'targeted' in the title and recitals.
  2. Category 1 NGT plants should be exempted from Union GMO legislation and treated as conventional, with a periodic review of equivalence criteria.
  3. The regulation should cover only plants, not microorganisms; for other organisms, the Commission will review in view of a future proposal.
  4. Verification of category 1 NGT plant status should be done by national competent authorities, with reasoned scientific objections and involvement of EFSA if objections are raised.
  5. Decisions declaring category 1 status should include information on the technique(s) used to obtain the trait(s) in the database.
  6. The use of category 1 NGT plants in organic production should be clarified in Regulation (EU) 2018/848, with a report after seven years on consumer and producer perception.
  7. Category 1 NGT plants should be indicated in national catalogues and/or common catalogue of varieties, including information on the technique(s) used.
  8. After successful authorisation, category 1 NGT plant authorisation should be valid for an unlimited period; for category 2, after first renewal, unless decided otherwise.
  9. NGT products should not be labelled as GMOs but as NGTs; labelling of consumer products as containing NGT or 'negative labelling' is prohibited.
  10. Deletes the exclusion of herbicide-tolerant NGT plants from incentives and the provision allowing Member States to restrict cultivation of category 2 NGT plants.
  11. Member States may take coexistence measures for category 2 NGT plants only if they can be detected, identified and quantified; not for category 1.
  12. NGT plants, plant material and parts thereof shall not be patentable; amendments to Directive 98/44/EC to exclude them from patentability.

Who is affected

  • Breeders and farmers: NGT plants are excluded from patentability, ensuring access to genetic material and the breeder's exemption.
  • Organic producers: category 1 NGT plants remain prohibited in organic production until a possible future change.
  • Importers: imports from third countries of NGT plants and products meeting the same standards shall not be prevented or impeded.
  • Consumers: no labelling of consumer products as containing NGT or 'negative labelling' is allowed.

Figures and deadlines

  • 10 working days for acknowledging receipt of verification request and for making it available to other Member States and the Commission.
  • 30 working days for declaring a verification request inadmissible and for preparing a verification report.
  • 20 days for other Member States and the Commission to make reasoned scientific objections to the verification report.
  • 20 working days for the competent authority to adopt a decision based on EFSA's scientific opinion, which is issued within 30 days.
  • Seven years after entry into force, the Commission shall present a report on consumer and producer perception of NGTs in organic production.
  • No later than 2026, the Commission shall present a report on the role and impact of patents on breeders' and farmers' access.