The European Parliament has approved new legislation on new genomic techniques for plants, marking a significant change in how these plants will be regulated in the EU. Under the new framework, plants will be assessed according to their final genetic characteristics rather than the method used to produce them, with separate rules applying to NGT-1 and NGT-2 categories.

Plants classified as NGT-1, which involve limited changes that could also arise through conventional breeding, will be treated in a similar way to conventional plants, although herbicide-tolerant and insecticidal plants are excluded from this category. NGT-2 plants, which involve more complex modifications, will remain subject to existing GMO rules, including risk assessment, authorisation, traceability, and labelling requirements.

The legislation also addresses sustainability monitoring, seed labelling, and intellectual property safeguards, while confirming that NGTs will not be allowed in organic production. The new rules are intended to improve resilience, competitiveness, and innovation in European agriculture, and will apply two years after entering into force.

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