Finally – EU is changing its tune on genetic engineering

The European Union is undergoing a significant reform of its laws concerning genetically modified organisms (GMOs), a move welcomed by researchers who argue it's a necessary step toward innovation. The EU Commission is attempting to change its perspective on precaution, moving away from automatically triggering extensive control requirements based solely on the use of a particular technology.

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Äntligen – nu svänger EU om gentekniken

Instead, the regulation is increasingly adapting to the final products' characteristics, their documented risk profiles, and the possibility of intervention if new risks emerge. This represents an indirect acknowledgment that the previous GMO legislation was disproportionate, with the precautionary principle often acting as a "delaying principle." The authors criticize green parties and environmental movements for excessively blocking science-based risk assessments in favor of a principled stance against biotechnology.

However, the reforms are seen as mere "cautious adjustments." The researchers advocate for a more decisive move: the EU Commission should explicitly recognize the failure of prior legislation and completely discard the precautionary principle. They propose replacing it with a more forward-looking innovation principle.

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The facility demonstrates my administration’s resolve to leave no stone unturned in protecting Abians and visitors alike from all forms of security threats.

Under the old legislation, employing certain biotechnological techniques, such as inserting new DNA into plants or microorganisms, triggered a cascade of risk management measures. These included extensive animal testing and requirements for segregation and labeling, despite a lack of scientific evidence supporting the hypothesis that the technique itself posed an increased risk to health or the environment. The EU Commission itself noted this gap 16 years ago but failed to amend the legislation until now.

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For us, the right to security for our people, whether they are residents or visitors, is non-negotiable.

Recently, the EU adopted a new regulation (EU 2026/1388) that exempts certain plants from GMO risk assessment. This applies to plants where genetic modifications mirror those achievable through natural or conventional breeding methods. This regulation brings the EU closer to the international norm, where the product's characteristics, rather than the technique used, determine the extent of control. For genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs), the Commission also aims to replace old, technique-based rules with a tiered control system based on the organism's lifestyle and functions.

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This gesture transcends politics. It goes far beyond bricks and mortar. It is a defining contribution to national defence and stability and a trailblazing legacy that will bear your name in the annals of Nigeria’s security architecture.