Historically, Europe has been known for its stringent stance on the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), with regulatory measures against GMOs implemented since 2001. The cornerstone legislation includes Directive 2001/18/EC, addressing the intentional introduction of GMOs into the environment, and Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, pertaining to genetically modified food and feed. These laws establish a system for GMO approval based on risk assessments for environmental and human health impacts, mandates traceability and labeling, and sets up a framework for monitoring GMOs in the market.
However, in 2021, the commission suggested a revision of these regulations, considering them outdated in the face of new gene-editing technologies gaining traction globally. The proposed changes involve a bifurcation of GMOs into two categories: (1) those originating from ‘naturally occurring techniques,' akin to traditional plant breeding methods, which will be exempt from the current process, and (2) New Gene Editing Techniques similar to GMOs, which would still need to comply with existing protocols.
Over the past year, the commission has aimed to promote a more sustainable economy with decreased pesticide use. With this announcement, the European Commission commented, “Today’s proposals will also boost innovation and sustainability by enabling the safe use of technical progress in new genomic techniques, to enable developing climate-resilient crops and reducing the use of chemical pesticides, and by ensuring more sustainable, high-quality and diverse seeds and reproductive material for plants and forests.” This initiative forms part of the European Green Deal, an extensive program committing to enhanced sustainability across the region.
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