The European Commission has proposed to more broadly allow food from agricultural products modified with new genetic techniques (NGTs) such as Crispr-cas. These would no longer have to meet strict prior controls and would no longer require separate labeling.
At the monthly LNV-Agriculture Council meeting in Brussels, the procedures needed to implement these new GMO rules were discussed for the first time. It became clear that EU countries are far from united on this issue. For the Netherlands, the use of genetic modification offers opportunities for the transition to a more sustainable agriculture and food system.
According to Minister Adema, their own research has shown that this can be safe for humans, animals, and the environment. New techniques can increase the resilience of crops and are necessary for the future of agriculture. Otherwise, Europe risks falling behind, he said on Monday in Brussels.
Adema wrote that several member states wish to allow the light NGT category 1 without restrictions, even in the organic sector. The stance of the outgoing Dutch cabinet is to respect the desire of the organic sector to remain free of these techniques. Other LNV ministers are also opposed or not yet eager to allow them.
Meanwhile, the European Parliament’s Agriculture and Environment Committees have scheduled meetings to consider the proposal as quickly as possible. They hope to complete this before the European elections (June 2024). However, Environment Commissioner Sinkevicius has already warned that much legal groundwork still needs to be done before a proper legislative proposal is put forward. In particular, abandoning the so-called 'precautionary principle' could pose challenges.
There is also a first draft report in the European Parliament from Swedish Christian Democrat Jessica Polfjärd (EPP/CDA). She advocates introducing the new techniques as quickly and extensively as possible, with even fewer restrictions than in the Commission proposal.
The left-wing opposition in the European Parliament insists that the organic sector must remain free of genetic modification and that this should be indicated on labels. Dutch MEP Anja Hazekamp (Party for the Animals) therefore demands a buffer zone of at least 5 kilometers between genetically modified cultivation and organic cultivation to prevent cross-pollination. If cross-contamination does occur, there must at least be mechanisms to ensure that the polluter pays through adequate liability arrangements.