By Staff Writer, Global AgInvesting Media
The European Parliament has officially adopted pioneering rules designed to grant farmers access to crops developed through New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). This legislative shift transitions the European Union away from its decades-old framework on genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Instead, the EU will regulate gene-edited crops based on their final genetic composition rather than how they were produced.
The provisional political agreement, ironed out between the Parliament and the Council, specifically aims to cultivate a more resilient agricultural sector. By prioritizing innovation, the EU plans to introduce crops that yield more food, withstand climate volatility, and demand fewer chemical interventions.
The Dual-Category System
To balance innovation with safety standards, the new framework splits NGT-altered plants into two distinct regulatory pathways based on their genetic complexity:
- NGT-1 (Conventional Equivalence): This category covers plants featuring a limited number and type of genetic alterations—specifically, modifications that could have naturally occurred or been achieved through traditional breeding methods. Once verified by regulators, NGT-1 plants will be treated exactly like conventional crops. However, following a strong push from MEPs, any crops engineered to tolerate herbicides or manufacture their own insecticidal substances are strictly barred from NGT-1 status.
- NGT-2 (GMO Alignment): Plants undergoing extensive or highly complex genetic modifications fall under this classification. NGT-2 crops remain bound to the EU’s strict, legacy GMO protocols. They will require a comprehensive risk assessment and explicit formal authorization before they can touch the European market.
Integrating EFSA’s Scientific Framework
This regulatory split directly aligns with foundational scientific frameworks established by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). In refining these policies, EFSA updated its guidance in April this year to establish a robust, case-by-case evaluation system for NGTs like targeted mutagenesis (precise edits without inserting foreign DNA) and cisgenesis (inserting DNA from the same or a closely related species).
To determine if an altered plant safely mirrors natural breeding, EFSA implemented six core risk-assessment criteria. The first four are designed to see if the host plant’s genes have been altered:
- Is a foreign (“exogenous”) DNA sequence present?
- If so, does it come exclusively from the breeder’s gene pool?
- Is the sequence integrated into a targeted, predictable location or randomly?
- Was the host plant gene “interrupted” by the newly introduced sequence?
The final two criteria come into play should the first four collectively find that no cisgenic or intragenic sequences have altered the host plant’s genes:
- Does is have a history of use?
- If not, the structure and function of the modified version of the DNA sequence should be carefully assessed.
If a specific genetic variation has a documented record of safe consumption or environmental exposure, data requirements for the developer can be scaled back. EFSA’s framework also reviews potential “off-target effects” (unintended mutations occurring elsewhere in the genome), concluding that targeted NGTs drastically lower these risks compared to traditional random mutagenesis or older GM methods.
Safeguards, Tracking, and Consumer Choice
Even with streamlined approvals for NGT-1 crops, the EU has maintained strict transparency measures. NGT-2 crops require full traceability and labeling, and individual member states retain the right to ban their cultivation locally. For NGT-1 variants, a public EU database will list every verified strain, and all commercial seed bags must feature an “NGT-1” label so farmers can make fully informed choices.
The legislation also strictly bans the use of any NGTs in organic farming. However, the Parliament clarified that the technically unavoidable presence of NGT-1 traces will not penalize organic operators, and the Commission will monitor any ensuing consumer perception or administrative burdens. Furthermore, to prevent corporate monopolies, the regulation limits the patenting of NGTs to entirely synthetic edits.
Traits or gene sequences that occur naturally remain unpatentable, safeguarding the traditional right of farmers to save and replant their seeds.
Looking Ahead
Proponents view the law as a critical win for European food security and economic competitiveness. Modern breeding tools are already being used globally to develop low-gluten wheat, blight-resistant potatoes, and drought-tolerant corn. This new law helps European farmers catch up to global peers, preparing them for extreme weather without relying heavily on chemical pesticides.
Rapporteur Jessica Polfjärd (EPP, SE) said: “This is a historic victory for Europe’s farmers and Europe’s future. By approving the use of NGTs, we have chosen innovation, competitiveness, and food security. European farmers have long been calling for access to these modern breeding tools, to help them develop crops that are more resilient and less dependent on pesticides. By making these safe, science-based breeding technologies available, Parliament is delivering for European farmers, safeguarding our food security, and building a more competitive and innovative Europe.”
The new regulation enters into force 20 days after its publication in the EU Official Journal and will become legally enforceable across all member states exactly two years later.
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