After months of stalled talks, EU ambassadors backed a compromise text on Friday by the Polish Presidency to move forward with negotiations on new rules facilitating the use of some gene-editing techniques (NGTs) in the EU.
NGTs – the most notable being the Nobel Prize-winning CRISPR-Cas9 – allow scientists to edit a crop’s genome to achieve specific traits, such as increased resistance to disease or extreme weather.
Currently, these technologies are subject to the EU’s strict GMO regulation, making their commercialisation in the bloc nearly impossible.
Poland introduced the proposal in late February, scrapping patent restrictions on gene-edited crops – one of the most divisive aspects of the draft legislation.
Once a staunch opponent of the text due to concerns over patents, Warsaw initially pushed for strict measures to block patents on NGT crops and even allow countries to opt out of cultivation.
However, the text approved today by member states takes a softer approach, merely enhancing transparency requirements and stating that companies seeking to market a gene-edited crop must disclose whether it is protected by a patent.
“Requesters should make such declarations to the best of their knowledge, providing any relevant information of which they are aware,” reads the text.
Among the strongest backers of the new rules are Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, and the Netherlands, while opponents include Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria. Germany, maintaining its stance from previous negotiations, abstained.
A spokesperson for the German Agriculture Ministry told Euractiv that the Polish proposal does not include improvements on key issues such as “transparency, freedom of choice and patentability.”
“Those who want to farm GMO-free must continue to be able to do so – without additional hurdles,” they added.
Two key questions marks ahead of the vote were Belgium, which ultimately voted in favour of the Polish compromise, as previously reported by Euractiv, and Greece.
As it is often the case, Belgium’s decision-making process was complicated by its multi-level governance structure, requiring agreement between regional and federal authorities.
Three EU diplomats confirmed that Belgium voted in favour, but with a “declaration” stating they wouldn’t necessarily support a final agreement after negotiations with the Parliament.
Greece, which was also undecided on its position until the last minute, decided “not to oppose” the Polish proposal, according to diplomatic sources.
The Parliament voted its position on the file in February 2024, calling for an outright ban on patents for NGT crops. With today’s Council approval, negotiations between the Parliament and member states could begin in the coming weeks.
[ADM/MM]
