• Biotechnology is recognised as a critical technology for Europe and can contribute to economic growth and sustainability ambitions
• Industrial biotechnology using microorganisms has been used since the 1980s to produce molecules of interest through fermentation in a wider variety of sectors, and with clear sustainability benefits. Genetic modification allows the improvement of microorganisms.
• More recently, biotechnology products using microorganisms in a live form have been developed. Despite their benefits, these types of products are not yet on the market due to the outdated EU regulatory framework.
• It is now widely acknowledged that the current EU regulatory framework is no longer fit for purpose, and so it is crucial to develop legislation that supports innovation and thereby the transition to a more sustainable economy.

EuropaBio policy asks:
- Move beyond the current EU GM legislation to a science-based and future proof product-based approach that focuses on the safety of products and organisms, not the techniques to develop and produce them;
- Accelerate the overall revision of the GM framework across all impacted sectors such as microbial biotechnology