EU institutions have struck a provisional agreement on regulating New Genomic Techniques (NGTs), creating a two-tier system for plant breeding. Category 1 NGTs, equivalent to conventional plants, get streamlined approvals and no product labelling, with seed-level identification. Exclusions (e.g., herbicide tolerance) shift traits to Category 2. Category 2 remains under GMO rules. Patent disclosure and transparency measures are added.
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The European Union has reached a provisional political agreement on the regulation of New Genomic Techniques (NGTs), marking a major milestone for plant breeding and the wider seed sector.
The deal between the Council of the EU and the European Parliament establishes a new, two-tier framework that distinguishes between NGT plants equivalent to conventional varieties (Category 1) and those requiring stricter oversight (Category 2). Category 1 NGT plants will benefit from a simplified approval process, with no product labelling required, although seed bags and official seed listings will indicate NGT-1 status. An exclusion list will prevent traits such as herbicide tolerance and the production of known insecticidal substances from entering Category 1, ensuring these remain regulated under Category 2. More complex NGT-2 plants will continue to fall under existing GMO rules, including traceability and labelling, and Member States retain the option to ban their cultivation.
The agreement also introduces greater transparency around patenting, requiring disclosure of existing or pending patents when registering NGT-1 plants and establishing an expert group to assess the impact on innovation and seed availability. The EU highlights that the new framework is intended to support competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience in European food systems. The provisional agreement now awaits formal endorsement by both institutions before becoming EU law. Here is the link to the official EU announcement: https://share.google/2Z78jnd7XvYGw2Sgo
Read more about:
- Danish Ag Minister Jensen featured in our 10 Most Influential EU Politicians for the Plant Breeding and Seed Sector
- How Denmark’s EU Council Presidency Puts PRM and NGT in the Spotlight
- Read the statement from Euroseeds
- Click here for the website of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union
- Read the letter from 25 Associations Press EU for Rapid, Science-Based NGT Approval
- Read Seed World Europe’s Editorial Director Marcel Bruins’ column: We Can’t Do it Without Patents
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