Brussels, 8 September 2023

The European Commission’s proposal for plants produced by certain new genomic techniques (NGT legislation) is a sign of its commitment to timely and relevant policymaking to ensure food security and tackle environmental challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss.
The GMO framework has implications for the EU’s global competitiveness and desire for greater resiliency against climate and geopolitical dynamics. As the EU modernizes its GMO Framework, it must urgently assess and take into account scientific and technological developments in all GMO-related legislation which will inevitably be impacted.
In this context, there are urgent scientific and economic reasons to further adapt the GMO framework for genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs). Globally, other jurisdictions are developing enabling frameworks that provide the needed regulatory certainty for industry and allow innovative products to access the market. By addressing GMMs in the GMO framework, the EU can lay out a pragmatic approach for novel products that will grow the EU’s resilience and competitiveness.

Europe cannot afford a delay in legislation for GMMs
Our policy asks:
• Include in the NGT legislation a commitment for the EC to publish a proposal for additional policy actions on genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs) by 2024.
• Accelerate the overall revision of the GMO framework across sectors beyond plants - to be in line with existing scientific advances.
This would help increase the Union strategic autonomy by developing novel products which contribute to the resilience of agri-food systems while reducing their environmental footprint.