| Author (Person) | Laaninen, Tarja |
|---|---|
| Author (Corporate) | European Parliament: European Parliamentary Research Service |
| Publisher | European Parliament: European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS), European Union |
| Series Title | EPRS Briefings |
| Series Details | PE 659.343 |
| Publication Date | November 2020 |
| Content Type | Research Paper |
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Summary: New plant genetic modification techniques, referred to as 'gene editing' or 'genome editing', have evolved rapidly in recent years, allowing much faster and more precise results than conventional plant-breeding techniques. They are seen as a promising innovative field for the agri-food industry, offering great technical potential. Consumers could benefit from enhanced nutritional quality or reduced allergenicity of food, for example, such as gluten-reduced wheat. There is, however, considerable debate as to how these new techniques should be regulated, and whether some or all of them should fall within the scope of EU legislation on genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Those who take the view that the new techniques should be exempt from GMO legislation generally argue that the end product is very similar to products generated using conventional breeding techniques, or that similar changes could also occur naturally. Those who consider that the new techniques should fall within the scope of GMO legislation contend that the processes used mean that plants bred using the new techniques are in fact genetically modified In July 2018, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that genome-edited organisms fall under the scope of European GMO legislation. While welcomed by some, the judgment also sparked criticism and calls for the new European Commission to amend EU GMO legislation. In November 2019, the Council requested that the Commission submit a study in light of the Court of Justice judgment regarding the status of novel genomic techniques (NGTs), by 30 April 2021. Further information: The link to the latest version of this EPRS Briefing can be found on Source Link. Earlier versions of this EPRS Briefing can be found on Related Links |
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| Source Link | Link to Main Source https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2020)659343 |
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| Subject Categories | Business and Industry |
| Subject Tags | Agriculture, Food | Drinks |
| Keywords | Genetically Modified Organisms [GMOs], Plant Health |
| International Organisations | European Union [EU] |
