Today, at a meeting of the permanent representatives of the EU member states in Brussels, the Polish Council Presidency has received a majority for its compromise text on the future deregulation of plants obtained from new genetic engineering (NGT). According to the text, the large majority of plants obtained from new genetic engineering (or new genomic techniques, NGT) would neither have to undergo risk assessment, nor be subject to labelling within the food chain and traceability. Their patentability would not be restricted. The deregulation would also apply to nearly all species of wild plants. New developments such as the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and new possibilities to induce more risky changes of plant characteristics would not be taken into account.
However, it is doubtful whether the proposal will pass in this form, as there is still a lot of criticism from member states. It is also unclear how a common position could be reached in the so-called trilogue between the Parliament on the one hand and the member states and the Commission on the other. The proposals differ significantly in important details. For example, the Parliament is calling for consistent labelling, a ban on patenting and different criteria for the risk classification of plants.
Several EU countries have already announced that they are not prepared to compromise. If the result deviates too far from the original positions, the legislative proposal could still fail in the final votes after the trilogue.
Testbiotech criticizes the proposal that has now been adopted as it would lead to a gross negligence in the handling of NGT plants. The text is not sufficiently based on scientific criteria, disregards the precautionary principle, the freedom of choice and would also exacerbate the problem of seed monopolization. In regard to future developments, the text is not sustainable and already inadequate to ensure the safe handling of new genetic engineering.
There is also a fundamental problem with the credibility of the EU. All experts who have taken a closer look at the proposed legislation are aware that the criteria introduced here (such as a threshold value of 20 genetic changes, below which no risk assessment would be necessary) are actually pseudoscience. They serve political and economic purposes, but are completely unsuitable for assessing the safety of plants. The EU is thus jeopardizing the most important asset in difficult times: its own credibility.
Testbiotech sees the main responsibility with the Commission, which has largely adopted the positions of the industry and appears to be accepting of far-reaching damage to the general public. In addition, the major media have done little to promote an informed public debate. Testbiotech will continue to struggle for a better solution that both proponents and critics can live with.
Contact:
Christoph Then, info@testbiotech.org, Tel + 49 151 54638040