The European Commission’s new plans for a more relaxed approach to new genetic engineering (NGT) in agriculture have been on the table since Wednesday. According to this, mutation processes such as the Crispr/Cas gene scissors should be easier to use and plants processed with them should no longer be labeled as genetically modified. The criticism comes from Austria.
One of the goals of deregulation is to grow plants that are more resistant to water shortages or pests. The European Commission proposes to divide genetically modified plants into two categories. Different requirements must apply to both categories to enter the market.
No verification for Category 1 installations
The first category includes plants that are similar to naturally occurring plants. Their genetic modifications can also occur naturally. Plants in the first category would be subject to a review process. Under the proposal, if they meet certain criteria, they will be considered normal plants and will no longer fall under the requirements of the current EU directive on genetic engineering.
More extensive testing in Category 2
Plants in the second category, on the other hand, would be tested more extensively. Plants with more complex changes in the genome fall into the second category. As before, they would have to go through the extensive risk assessment procedures provided for in current EU regulations.
Strong criticism from Austria
Scientists have been calling for a relaxation of the strict EU rules for so-called green genetic engineering for some time. Conversely, the plans have already led to strong criticism from Austrian NGOs, for example. Critics fear that large companies could gain even more control over food production.
“Really big concern” in the Ministry of the Environment
Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) spoke in the Council of Ministers on Wednesday of “very great concern” about the plans. “If you really arrange for the freedom of choice to be taken away, then that is certainly something that we from Austria will definitely fight against with great consistency,” she said. Health Minister Johannes Rauch and Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig joined the criticism.
The new genetic engineering regulations are part of the “Food and Biodiversity Package” presented by the European Commission on Wednesday. It also includes legislative proposals on soil health and reforms to seed legislation and the Waste Framework Directive. The EU countries and the European Parliament must now discuss the proposals and work out a compromise.
Source: Krone
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