EU Committee Backs Proposal to Relax Genetically Modified Plant Rules

The proposal, criticized by environmental groups, will be voted on in the European Parliament's February plenary session.

The European Parliament's environment committee has backed a proposal to relax rules on genetically modified plants produced using new genomic techniques (NGTs), with 47 votes to 31 and 4 abstentions.
The proposed law is expected to be voted on during the Parliament's Feb. 5-8 plenary session before negotiations can begin with EU member countries, which remain divided on the issue.
The proposal suggests creating two different categories and sets of rules for genetically modified plants produced using NGTs. Those considered equivalent to traditional crops would be exempt from GMO legislation, but other NGT plants would have to follow current requirements.
The committee agreed that all NGT plants should remain prohibited in organic production and also agreed on a ban on all patents filed for NGT plants, to avoid legal uncertainties, increased costs and new dependencies for farmers and breeders.
Environmental groups, including Greenpeace, have criticized the proposal, asserting that the new law could threaten the rights of farmers and consumers because it does not provide sufficient protection against the contamination of crops with new GMOs.