"By allowing untested and unlabelled GM plants to be released into the environment and onto our plates, they are putting both people and nature at risk" – Save Our Seeds

The Council of Ministers today reached an agreement on a position regarding the deregulation of genetically modified (GM) plants. In the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER), the Polish EU Presidency managed to secure a narrow majority for its proposal of 19 February.[1]

In July 2023, the European Commission proposed to exempt most plants engineered with new genetic modification (GM) techniques such as CRISPR/Cas from EU GMO regulations. Requirements such as risk assessment, GMO labelling and traceability would no longer apply. Only the GM seeds would carry a "Cat. 1 NGT" label.

After extensive debates, the Council of Ministers has now adopted this proposal with only minimal changes. This marks the beginning of a new phase in the EU legislative process. Trilogues with the European Parliament and the Commission can soon begin.

However, in February 2024, the European Parliament voted for labelling and traceability of CRISPR products and called for a comprehensive ban on patents. The Parliament and the Council must now agree on a common text. At the end, both institutions have to formally approve that text in a vote.

Recently, over 200 agricultural and environmental organisations protested against the GMO deregulation.

Franziska Achterberg, Head of Policy and Advocacy at Save Our Seeds, said: “The ministers have clearly caved to pressure from large multinational biotech companies. By allowing untested and unlabelled GM plants to be released into the environment and onto our plates, they are putting both people and nature at risk. Furthermore, they are stripping consumers of their right to avoid GM food.”

"This law has only one winner—and many losers. Untested, unlabeled, yet patented GM crops and food will increase corporate market power while undermining the rights of farmers and consumers. It is now up to the members of the newly elected European Parliament to at least safeguard the basic interests of farmers, consumers and the environment from a complete sellout to industry."[2]

While the EU is gearing up to deregulate plants engineered with new GM techniques like CRISPR/Cas, companies are increasingly turning to Artificial Intelligence to accelerate the genetic engineering process and expand its possibilities.[3]

Achterberg added: "At a time when the use of artificial intelligence in genetic engineering is significantly expanding both its potential and its risks, the ministers are about to abandon all oversight and effective control of its products."

Notes

[1] Supported the compromise: Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. Did not support: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

[2] An Ipsos poll of 2021 shows that the majority (68%) of respondents who have heard of new GM techniques, such as CRISPR, want food produced with these techniques labelled as GM.

[3] A recent report by Save Our Seeds shows that the convergence of AI and CRISPR/Cas could amplify weaknesses of gene editing — such as unintended side effects — by adding known shortcomings of generative AI, including the ‘black box’ effect, hallucinations, and data distortions.

Source: Save Our Seeds