EU Laws on Genomic Breeding

Anna Borràs and Ilaria Ciabatti from the European Commission presented the legal and policy framework shaping the regulation of new genomic techniques in plant breeding. They outlined the existing EU GMO legislation, highlighting its core principles of risk assessment, traceability and labelling, and explained why recent scientific developments have challenged its adequacy.

Building on a comprehensive study and impact assessment, the speakers described the rationale behind the proposal. They emphasised that certain NGT-derived plants can be equivalent to conventionally bred plants, while others require continued regulatory oversight. The EU proposal would therefore introduce a two-tier system distinguishing between plants treated similarly to conventional crops, and plants that remain subject to adapted GMO rules.

The discussion touched on implementation challenges, including detection methods, thresholds for genetic modifications and international regulatory divergence. Participants also reflected on uncertainties regarding market uptake and the practical application of the new categories, underlining the importance of ongoing monitoring and stakeholder engagement.

NRP 84 webinar recordings are available by request.