Europe lifts ban on gene-edited crops, paving way for innovation

The European Parliament has significantly eased its stance on genetically modified organisms, passing a new law that largely exempts gene-edited crops from stringent regulations. The legislation, known as the New Genomic Techniques (NGT) law, distinguishes between gene-edited organisms (NGT-1) and genetically modified organisms (NGT-2). Crops edited using their own genes, with minor changes akin to traditional breeding, will no longer require the rigorous approval process applied to GMOs.

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The new law's enactment means the regulatory standard has shifted from how crops are made to what the genetically modified crop looks like.

This policy shift aims to bolster Europe's agricultural competitiveness and food security amidst growing concerns about climate change and pest resistance. The new rules will apply to crops where gene editing involves changes to fewer than 20 base pairs of the plant's own genetic sequence, provided the edits could theoretically occur through natural cross-breeding or traditional methods. However, gene editing specifically for herbicide resistance or the production of pesticides will still be subject to strict GMO regulations.

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A monumental milestone for science, innovation, and sustainable agriculture.

The European Union's explanation for the policy change is a shift in regulatory focus from "how crops are made" to "what the genetically modified crop looks like." This move aligns Europe with other major agricultural producers like the United States, Canada, Brazil, and China, which have already relaxed their GMO regulations. Japan, for instance, approved gene-edited tomatoes with enhanced nutritional content in 2021, and the UK has introduced legislation defining gene-edited crops as "precision-bred organisms."

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The core of the new law is to treat plants using gene editing the same as conventionally bred plants, creating another efficient way to develop good varieties.

While welcomed by agricultural groups like EU-SAGE as a "monumental milestone for science, innovation, and sustainable agriculture," the decision was not without debate. Concerns from environmental groups and farmers about potential market monopolies by large agricultural corporations were addressed through a compromise requiring the disclosure of patent information for gene-edited crops. South Korea is also considering similar legislative changes, with a bill to exclude gene-edited crops from GMO regulations currently pending.

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Gene-edited crops have technology used in their creation, but nothing remains in the final food product, yet they continue to be strictly regulated due to vague fear of the unfamiliar.