The European Parliament and the Council have reached a provisional political agreement on new genomic techniques (NGTs) aimed at making the EU food system more secure and sustainable. The deal, concluded Wednesday night, focuses on plants with altered genetic material that can improve climate and pest resistance, increase yields, and reduce the need for fertilisers and pesticides.
Under the agreement, NGT1 plants—those that could occur naturally or through conventional breeding—will be exempt from most precautionary requirements of current EU genetically modified organism (GMO) legislation. NGT2 plants will continue to be regulated under existing GMO rules. These regulations will apply to both EU-grown and imported plants.
The negotiators set criteria to define NGT1 plants and established an exclusion list for traits not permitted in this category, such as known insecticidal effects or herbicide tolerance. To guide NGT use towards sustainability goals, the Commission and member states are tasked with monitoring their impacts using data from official controls.
Regarding intellectual property rights, patents for NGTs will be allowed except for traits or sequences occurring in nature or produced by biological means. Safeguards were included to prevent market concentration and ensure fair access for farmers, who retain rights to save and replant seeds. The Commission is required to work with stakeholders within 18 months of regulation entry into force to create an EU code of conduct on patents. This code aims to clarify licensing conditions under fair terms and address patent disputes involving breeders and farmers if patented material is unintentionally present in fields.
Should a Commission assessment find significant barriers to accessing patented NGTs, further legislative action may follow.
Plant varieties containing or derived from an NGT1 plant must be indicated in official databases; all seed bags must also be labelled accordingly so farmers can make informed choices. Full traceability remains mandatory for NGT2s, while EU countries may restrict or prohibit cultivation of these after authorisation under current GMO rules.
No NGTs will be permitted in organic production systems; however, technically unavoidable presence of NGT1 plants does not constitute non-compliance. The Commission will review whether this regulation poses burdens on organic operators.
Rapporteur Jessica Polfjärd (EPP, SE) commented: “This is a historic day. The EU is taking its first step towards giving farmers access to new, Nobel Prize-winning technology. Technology that will allow them to grow crops that can withstand climate change and deliver higher yields on less land. This is crucial for strengthening our food security. Today’s agreement is a breakthrough that boosts not only our farmers’ competitiveness, but also Europe’s position in research and innovation.”
The informal agreement requires endorsement by both Parliament and Council before entering into force 20 days after publication in the EU Official Journal; application would begin two years later.
The aim of these new rules is to develop improved plant varieties with better resilience against climate challenges while reducing reliance on chemical inputs—a move already reflected outside the EU where several crops produced via similar methods are available.
