Joint Letter: Policy Proposal for New Genomic Techniques
14 November 2022Leading agri-food value chain partners welcome the European Commission’s initiative on New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) and call for an enabling, proportionate and science-based regulatory framework. The letter highlights the limitations of the current GMO legislation for plants obtained through targeted mutagenesis and cisgenesis, and stresses the need for EU rules that reflect the diversity and potential of NGT applications.
The signatories emphasise the role of NGTs in supporting sustainable agriculture, food security, biodiversity, climate goals and the competitiveness of the European agri-food sector, while cautioning against disproportionate regulatory requirements that could particularly disadvantage SMEs. They also call for a regulatory approach aligned with international developments and encourage the Commission to extend discussions to livestock and fermentation sectors.