8 February 2024, Brussels - The New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) legislation vote in the European Parliament is a welcome modernisation of Europe’s biotechnology innovation, food security and climate change response. However, EuropaBio red flags the dangerous fragmentation and weakening of industrial policy with the ban on patenting of NGT plants.

EuropaBio Director General Dr. Claire Skentelbery commented “This undermines the Biopatent Directive (98/44/EC) by introducing sector-specific rules. Whilst Europe advances the legislative landscape for biotechnology, it is simultaneously doing the opposite for policy coherence and competitiveness.”