Landmark Moments in European Politics : Parliament favoring New NGT Rules and Commission President requesting withdrawal of existing rules that aimed to slash pesticide use by half by 2030
Parliament favoring New NGT Rules
Today, the European Parliament endorsed its position for negotiations with member states on the Commission proposal on New Genomic Techniques referred to as NGTs. 307 MEPs voted in favour, with 263 against and 41 abstentions.
MEPs agree with the proposal to have two different categories and two sets of rules for NGT plants. NGT plants considered equivalent to conventional ones, called NGT 1 plants, would be exempted from the requirements of the GMO legislation, whereas other NGT plants, referred to as NGT 2 plants, would still have to follow stricter requirements. MEPs also agree that all NGT plants should remain prohibited in organic production as their compatibility requires further consideration.
For NGT 1 plants, MEPs want to amend the size and number of modifications needed for a NGT plant to be considered equivalent to conventional plants. Additionally, they advocate for transparent labeling of packages containing NGT seeds and the establishment of a public online list of all NGT 1 plants. While there would be no mandatory labeling for NGT 1 plants initially, MEPs call for a report from the Commission seven years after the legislation's entry into force to assess consumer and producer perceptions of these new techniques.
Regarding NGT 2 plants, MEPs support maintaining stringent requirements similar to those of the existing GMO legislation, including the authorization procedure and mandatory labeling of products. However, they propose expediting the risk assessment process for NGT 2 plants that are expected to contribute to a more sustainable agri-food system, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the precautionary principle.
One significant aspect of the European Parliament's position is the call for a full ban on patents for all aspects related to NGT plants, including plant material, genetic information, and process features. This measure aims to prevent legal uncertainties, reduce costs, and avoid creating new dependencies for farmers and breeders. MEPs also request a report by June 2025 to assess the impact of patents on breeders' and farmers' access to diverse plant reproductive material, along with a legislative proposal to update EU rules on intellectual property rights accordingly.
Parliament is now ready to start negotiations with EU member states on the final law.
Commission President requesting withdrawal of existing rules that aimed to slash pesticide use by half by 2030
Yesterday, Ursula von der Leyen announced the withdrawal of a contentious law that aimed to reduce the use of pesticides across the European Union.
The so-called Sustainable Use Regulation (SUR) was first tabled in June 2022, as part of the Green Deal, with the ambitious goal of slashing by half the use of pesticides by 2030. It also envisioned the total prohibition of these products in sensitive areas, such as urban green spaces and promoted the uptake of low-risk alternatives.
Under pressure from conservatives and lobbyists, the SUR strategy had been gradually watered down and stripped to the bare minimum and was rejected by the European Parliament last year.
Amidst farmer protests against EU environmental regulations, Von der Leyen suggested the Commission might formulate a new proposal with increased stakeholder engagement, including a 'strategic dialogue' with agri-food stakeholders. If progress towards a new proposal is sluggish, Von der Leyen's decision implies that the Commission's 2009 directive on the sustainable use of pesticides will endure for the foreseeable future.
European elections are around the corner… Whoever assumes the Commission President role post-election will grapple with the daunting task of realizing the EU's climate targets, a feat nearly unattainable without addressing the persistent issue of sustainable and healthy food product.
