The European Union reached a provisional political agreement during trilogue negotiations on the regulation of New Genomic Techniques (NGTs), a step aimed at strengthening the EU food system while supporting sustainable farming. The deal distinguishes between NGT1 plants—those that could occur naturally or through conventional breeding—and NGT2 plants, with lighter regulatory requirements for the former and full GMO-style oversight for the latter.
Under the agreement, EU lawmakers largely exempted NGT1 plants from precautionary requirements applied to genetically modified organisms (GMOs), while keeping NGT2 plants subject to existing rules. They set clear criteria to determine which plants qualify as NGT1 and created an exclusion list to prevent traits such as herbicide tolerance and known insecticidal effects from inclusion. Member states and the Commission will monitor the sustainability impacts of NGT plants, including climate and pest resistance, higher yields, and reduced need for fertilisers and pesticides.
Patents allowed
The agreement allows patents for NGTs, except for traits or sequences that occur in nature or are produced by biological means. It introduces safeguards to prevent market concentration and ensures farmers retain the right to save and replant seeds. The Commission will draw up an EU code of conduct on patent licensing within 18 months of the regulation’s entry into force, setting out fair and reasonable conditions and mechanisms to resolve disputes in cases of unintentional minor presence of patented material.
The agreement makes transparency and labelling a key feature. EU authorities will indicate all NGT1-derived plant varieties in official databases, and seed producers must label all seed bags as NGT1. The EU will maintain full traceability and labelling for NGT2 plants. Member states may restrict or prohibit the cultivation of NGT2s after authorisation, in line with current GMO rules. Organic producers cannot use NGTs, though the unavoidable presence of NGT1 plants will not count as non-compliance.
Seeds association says agreement is big step forward
Europe’s seed sector welcomed the trilogue outcome. Euroseeds, a major association representing European plant breeders and seed companies, described the agreement as a signal Europe’s seed sector and farmers urgently needed.
Garlich von Essen, Euroseeds CEO, said: “The EU is finally ready to enable its breeders and seed producers to use innovative tools that help our farmers face climate change, new pests and diseases, and increasing production challenges. That strengthens competitiveness across the entire agri-food chain.”
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He noted that the final text includes additional requirements and restrictions that still require careful analysis to judge the scope and impact.
Lawmakers must still approve the provisional agreement in a second reading by the European Parliament and the Council. Once they adopt it, the regulation will enter into force 20 days after publication and apply two years later.
