The goal of relaxing the rules is to enable the development of improved climate-resilient plant varieties that are also resistant to pests, yield higher outputs, and require fewer fertilizers and pesticides. This should help make the food system more sustainable and resilient, and could also reduce the rate at which crops and agricultural products spoil.
With a majority of 307 to 263 votes (with 41 abstentions), some food crops (NGT1) may be edited using the so-called Crispr-Cas gene-editing technique. For other crops (NGT2), this is still not permitted. More than 150 of the over 700 MEPs were either not present in Strasbourg or did not participate in the vote.
The Parliament did adopt the position that foods containing crops modified with such new genetic techniques should remain outside the organic food chain. Therefore, the GMO treatment must be indicated on labels, according to EU politicians. Moreover, there should be a ban on applying for and granting patents on such 'new' foods.
Because of these last two positions, it is not yet clear whether the new rules can be implemented soon, as several EU countries advocate for broader regulations. There are even calls to abolish the distinction between NGT1 and NGT2. Soon, the 26 Agriculture Ministers will need to reach a qualified majority, after which negotiations with Parliament on a common stance will take place.
Opponents call it highly concerning that gene-tech crops could enter the environment and our plates without safety assessments. "The biotech industry has done everything possible to abolish the rules for gene-tech. Very worrying that the lobby of multinationals is winning in Brussels," said MEP and co-negotiator Anja Hazekamp (Party for the Animals).
The European Parliament insists that the label must specify "new genomic techniques." Consumer choice is important: they want the option to choose whether or not to consume such products, Hazekamp emphasized.
Choice is also very important for organic food producers. Recently, the Dutch House of Representatives called on Dutch Minister Piet Adema (Agriculture, Nature & Food Quality) by motion to safeguard consumer choice and ensure the organic sector can remain gene-tech free.
Dutch VVD MEP Jan Huitema is pleased with the approval of the proposal. He calls it a decision that comes at exactly the right time. ‘We cannot afford to exclude new innovations based on gut feelings. With new breeding techniques, we can reintroduce the natural defense mechanisms of plants into our food crops, such as potatoes and grains.
Other parts of the world already use such new breeding techniques, while Europe has lagged due to strict GMO legislation.’