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European regions call for revision of EU genetic engineering plans

Regions concerned about risks to agriculture and consumers

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) represents the interests of EU regions and cities in Brussels and comments on new EU legislation affecting cities and municipalities. In an opinion drafted by Hungarian MEP Erik Konczer on the EU Commission's plans for genetic engineering, the CoR urges the EU institutions to fundamentally revise the proposal. The representatives of the regions warn of serious risks for the future of European agricultural and food systems as well as consumer protection.

Threats for the entire value chain

The CoR sees threats for the entire value chain in European food production, including the destabilisation of the resilience of EU agriculture. Specifically, the CoR fears that the lack of labelling and traceability of NGT plants could jeopardise growers‘ freedom to choose varieties on the one hand, and consumers’ right to freedom of choice when buying food on the other. The regional representatives also point out that there are currently no regulations on the issue of liability, but that farmers must be protected in the event of unintentional contamination of their crops by genetically modified plants.

Access to genetic resources for all

Variety innovations will also be urgently needed in the future, the regions emphasise. The CoR points out that it is essential that smaller, traditional breeders and seed companies are also guaranteed unrestricted access to all genetic resources. The legally regulated non-patentability of natural plants and genes is a prerequisite for this.

Regional sovereignty in the application of the regulation

The representatives of the regions agree that further market concentration in the seed sector, increasing dependence of farmers on large seed companies and additional costs for NGT-free seed must be prevented. They fear that the planned new regulation will reduce the availability of GMO-free seeds and plant propagation material and further reduce the biodiversity and resilience of agricultural production systems in the EU. The CoR is therefore calling for the right for regions “not to apply the regulation in order to protect and preserve the high-quality food value chain in their regions“.

Regions have so far been given too little consideration in the debate on genetic engineering

“The interests of the European regions have so far been given far too little consideration in the current debate on the EU rules for new genetic engineering. This also shows that the debate is far from over and needs more time. The justified criticism and demands from the regions must be taken into account in any case before a new GMO regulation is finalise“ explains Alexander Hissting, Managing Director of the Association Food without Genetic Engineering (VLOG).

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