No risk assessment, traceability or labelling for 94% of new GMOs; rapporteur betrays intent of Parliament

A deal was reached on the new GMOs (NGT, "new genomic techniques") deregulation file in the "trilogue" discussion between the EU Parliament, Council of the EU, and Commission last night. It's a terrible one for public health and the environment.

The European People's Party (EPP) Rapporteur Jessica Polfjärd gave up nearly all of the wins of the European Parliament.

* For category NGT1 plants (assumed to be equivalent to conventional plants – around 94% of new GMOs are expected to fit into this category) there is no risk assessment, no labelling, no traceability, no monitoring, no mandatory buffer zones or other co-existence measures (Member States "may" take co-existence measures, not "shall"). Only seeds will be labelled to help non-GMO growers avoid planting NGT GMOs.

* There are no adequate protection/coexistence measures for the organic and conventional sector and other GMO-free chains

* There will be no option to cancel authorisation, in case risks would be detected.

* No liability is established in case of harms - giving carte blanche for GMO companies.

* Patents: The only "safeguards" are weak, including a vague voluntary code of conduct on patent licensing. There will be limited access to breeding materials, which will disadvantages
smaller breeders. Farmers will be at risk for patent infringements.

* In terms of sustainability criteria, NGT1 plants cannot be herbicide-tolerant and cannot produce insecticides themselves. Here is the text on the insecticides:
Trait: “Production of a known insecticidal substance”
"Traits supporting the production of a known insecticidal substance should be considered as an exclusion criterion from category 1 NGT. Such traits are aimed at killing insect pests, but they may also have adverse effects on beneficial insects such as pollinators. Based on the latter, plants that are developed to include such traits should be subject to the provisions of category 2 NGT plants (which will undergo a simplified risk assessment and labelling)." That's a small victory for citizens and the environment.

Member States can opt-out of (ban) the cultivation of NGT2 (not NGT1).

GMWatch comment

This deal could not be much worse – and the rapporteur Polfjärd has betrayed the intention of the Parliament.

Next steps

Agriculture ministers and the plenary of the European Parliament need to agree on the outcomes of the trilogue.

The majority in Council and Parliament are not fixed in their vote. Some countries and MEPs might not support the deal.