European Union: Biotechnology and Other New Production Technologies Annual

The EU's intricate biotechnology policy hinders research and restricts innovative tools for farmers. This results in substantial imports of genetically engineered (GE) feed and limited domestic GE crop production. The current global challenges such as climate change, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and broader international instability may encourage a more pragmatic approach towards biotech. The rise of new biotech applications and evolving perceptions, particularly concerning new genomic techniques (NGTs) has underscored the need for a new regulatory system for these techniques. Recognizing this, on July 5, 2023, the European Commission adopted a new proposal for NGT-produced plants. The proposal introduces two categories of plants based on what is considered achievable naturally and what is not, outlining specific regulatory approaches for each category. The European Parliament and the Council of the EU as co-legislators must now assess and amend the proposal before its adoption as official EU law.