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German state agriculture ministers call for coexistence regulations for new genetic engineering

Closing press conference of the Spring AMC 2026, Photo: Ernst Wukits/StMELF

In a motion to this effect, they call on the federal government to "create binding and practical regulations on coexistence and detection procedures and to coordinate these in harmony with other EU Member States".

Green ministers also want regulations on "opt-out" and liability

The Green agriculture ministers from Bremen, Hamburg and Lower Saxony are additionally calling for "opt-out" and liability regulations for NGT "for those operating organically and conventionally without genetic engineering". This is necessary, they argue, to ensure that "market-oriented, GMO-free conventional seed breeding and food production" continues in the future, as well as "legally binding GMO-free cultivation" in organic farming.

The German states are not directly involved in the EU’s new regulations on new genetic technologies and can therefore only appeal to the federal government and the European Parliament (EP). The EP is expected to hold a final vote on the deregulation of new genetic technologies on 18 May.

Last-minute amendment on patents in the European Parliament

A cross-party amendment to amend the Biopatent Directive is planned for this EP vote, with the aim of restricting the patenting of NGT seeds and plants. According to their AMC resolution, this amendment is even supported by all state agriculture ministers.

In the event that this amendment fails to secure a majority in the EP, the state ministers are calling on the Federal Government to support the European Parliament’s original position from February 2024 in favour of a "complete ban on patents on any plant material and parts thereof, on NGT plants, as well as on genetic information and the process features contained therein". 

An important appeal for the future of "Ohne Gentechnik" (Non-GMO) and Organic

"The German states are aware of the importance of the GMO-free food industry. It is good and important that, even now in the final stages of the deregulation of NGT, they are still making this important appeal to the federal government and the European Parliament. For even if the deregulation is indeed approved in May, the matter is far from settled. On the contrary: Afterwards, workable solutions must be developed to ensure that "Ohne Gentechnik" and Organic can continue to reliably exclude genetic engineering in the future," comments VLOG Managing Director Alexander Hissting.

Preliminary minutes of the 2026 Spring AMC (German)

Spring Conference of Agriculture Ministers: States send clear signals for the future of agriculture (German)

Infodienst Gentechnik: New genetic engineering – German states want fewer patents (German)

Agrarheute: EU genetic engineering law – Agriculture ministers warn of disadvantages for farmers (German)

Biofach 2026: "Ohne Gentechnik" and organic go hand in hand for GMO-free food