Ahead of 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, has highlighted the importance of a science-based and innovation-friendly regulatory framework for NGT plants.
In our joint statement, we emphasize that verification of NGT 1 plants should remain a technical and scientific process focused solely on molecular and genetic criteria. Sustainability assessments, they note, fall outside the mandate of EU co-legislators and are already addressed through existing legislation on plant health, food and feed safety, and environmental protection.
The statement also calls for minimal regulatory burdens on NGT 1 plants, particularly regarding traceability and labelling. Transparency is already ensured through official national variety lists, the European catalogue, and company catalogues, allowing informed choices without creating unnecessary distinctions at the consumer level.
Euroseeds and the farmers’ organizations urge policymakers to adopt a proportionate framework aligned with international standards. Such an approach will strengthen Europe’s competitiveness in agriculture, facilitate trade and research cooperation, and support the EU’s ability to address global challenges in food security and climate adaptation.
