AseBio, AEPLA, ANOVE, and the ANTAMA Foundation urge European legislators to vote in favor of the proposed adequate regulation on NGTs

In a context of raw material limitation, environmental crisis, climate change, and a growing commitment to environmental conservation, the biotechnological sector holds significant transformative potential from the triple perspective of economic, social, and environmental sustainability, thus providing tools and solutions throughout the agri-food chain.

Thanks to decades of scientific advancements and the implementation of innovative technologies, this sector has proven to be strategic in ensuring food supply, which is already recognized as one of the primary global challenges.

Among the technological innovations available for developing new and improved plant varieties, Genome Editing Techniques (NGTs) can offer solutions to the increasing and complex challenges facing agriculture and our planet. These new genome editing techniques are distinguished by their efficiency; they are precise, fast, and relatively cost-effective, giving them the potential to facilitate the development of new innovative products more efficiently and with fewer resources.

In this context, the European Union has the opportunity to promote a safer, more sustainable, and more resilient agri-food system. However, for NGTs to generate innovative products, it is necessary to establish an appropriate, predictable regulatory framework that enhances innovations derived from these techniques.

Given this scenario, AseBio, AEPLA, ANOVE, and the ANTAMA Foundation welcome and positively value the important work carried out by the Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries (AGRIFISH) and the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) regarding the positive vote on the proposed regulation concerning plants obtained through certain new genomic techniques and the derived foods and feeds. This proposal also includes modifications to Regulation (EU) 2017/625.

This position aligns with the stance of the scientific community, as reflected in the open letter supported by AseBio, signed by 35 Nobel laureates and over 1000 scientists, urging Members of the European Parliament to support the regulation of New Genomic Techniques. Additionally, we highlight the importance of the letter published by the French Association of Plant Biotechnology, the German Society of Plant Biotechnology, and the Association of Genomics and Genetic Engineering of Germany. The latter emphasizes the consequences of limiting access or use of NGTs in Europe in various areas.

These documents reflect the shared concern of both the scientific community and the industry regarding the possibility of squandering the potential offered by science due to the lack of adequate regulation for scientific advancements, particularly regarding NGTs applied in plants.

Based on all the above, we consider it crucial not to miss the opportunity to progress in the approval of this regulation, which will contribute to establishing more appropriate and aligned regulations regarding plants and products resulting from NGTs. Therefore, we urge the vote in favor of the NGTs regulation proposal in the vote scheduled for February 7, 2024.

Furthermore, we hope that as this regulation is finalized, both the text and its scope will be refined to ensure scientific criteria in decision-making and its effective implementation.