EU Parliament: Vote on Relaxed Genetic Engineering Rules

Specifically, the compromise provides that costly environmental assessments before the approval of certain NGT plants are to be dropped. Manufacturers had argued in the past that the existing environmental impact assessments were so extensive that approval was often not economically worthwhile.

In addition, products made from certain genetically modified plants are to no longer be required to carry a label in supermarkets. This means that consumers when shopping will no longer be able to tell whether a food product was made from an NGT plant of category 1.

Registration requirement and transitional periods

A list is to include all plants that have the status of NGT plant of category 1. Which plants are entered there is the subject of further political discussions at the EU level.

If the text is adopted, the regulation will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU. Most provisions will apply after a transitional period of 24 months.

Criticism from Austria and the Greens

Critics of the law fear that genetically modified plants could spread in the wild. They warn that the spread of genetically modified plants in the wild poses a risk to the balance of ecosystems.

Supporters counter that NGT plants of category 1 could also arise under natural conditions and therefore pose no additional risk compared to conventionally bred varieties. This view is shared by the EU Commission.

From Austria, meanwhile, objections were raised in the debate. ÖVP MEP Alexander Bernhuber stressed on Tuesday that Austria could also "continue to pursue the path of freedom from genetic engineering." He thus pointed to national leeway within EU law.

The Green MEPs in the European Parliament, including the Austrian Thomas Waitz, also expressed criticism of the compromise. They see consumer choice endangered by the lack of labeling and demand improvements.

Business and other EU countries

The Austrian federal government had also spoken out before the vote against any weakening of the labeling requirement. It argues that transparency toward consumers must take priority.

In several other EU countries, including France and Italy, there are also reservations about the planned relaxation. Environmental and farmers' associations there recently called for stricter requirements, particularly for organic farming.

Industry associations and plant breeders in the EU, on the other hand, are pushing for the regulation to be adopted swiftly. They point to the growing pressure from climate change and the need to bring more resistant varieties to market more quickly.

Outcome and consequences

Whether the compromise will ultimately hold in the proposed form was initially unclear. Observers had expected a tight outcome beforehand, since both a majority in favor of the relaxation and a blocking minority against the plans seemed possible.

Regardless of the outcome of the vote, the debate over how to deal with new breeding techniques will continue to occupy the EU in the coming years. The question of how organic farming can be safeguarded against NGT plants has also not yet been finally resolved.