During the ‘trilogue’ negotiations, i.e. negotiations between the EU Parliament, the Council of Ministers and the Commission, EU representatives agreed to exempt almost all plants obtained from new genetic engineering (new genomic techniques, NGTs) from mandatory environmental risk assessment. Regulations on food labeling and traceability will no longer apply. Neither are they planning to introduce effective measures to stop patents on seeds. The final vote could take place within a matter of weeks.
Testbiotech is concerned that the EU is about to withdraw from its responsibilities to protect health and the environment, and instead leave everything to free market forces. The new regulation would introduce new rules that make no sense from a scientific perspective – their only purpose being to exempt the vast majority of NGT plants from the current EU GMO regulation.
Therefore, Testbiotech is warning against misleading the public by creating the impression that certain rules and safety standards will continue to apply to the release of NGT plants. In reality, however, the industry is being given carte blanche to bring their plants to market via a fast-track approval process, with virtually disregarding the consequences for health or the environment.
Testbiotech is directing heavy criticism at the EU for embracing libertarian ideas of a free market that place supposed technological advancement above all and reject any form of regulation, particularly in the field of biotechnology.
There are only a few weeks left until the final vote. Testbiotech still hopes that the worst damage can be avoided and continues to believe in the power of strong arguments. The EU should fulfill its obligations to protect health and the environment, also being in competition with other geopolitical power blocs. New genetic engineering cannot provide sustainable benefits if adequate protection of biodiversity and food production is not in place.
Contact:
Christoph Then, info@testbiotech.org, Tel + 49 151 54638040
Further information:
Scientific paper on the differences between NGT and conventional breeding
Briefing – Why plants obtained from new genetic engineering should not be deregulated