EU reaches deal on gene-edited crops after fierce debate

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PARIS, Dec 4 (Reuters) – The European Union has reached a preliminary deal on how to regulate gene-edited crops in a move that could ease the development of new varieties in a region long wary of biotech innovations in food.

The EU has debated for years how to regulate so-called new genomic techniques (NGT), which can edit the genetic material of an organism without introducing traits from another species. 

Proponents say the technology accelerates naturally-occurring mutations and offers a response to climate and environmental pressures, while critics bracket it with genetically modified organisms as a risk to ecosystems and health.

Under an agreement struck overnight by representatives of EU countries and the European Parliament, a first category of NGT crops will be regulated like conventional crops and not require special labelling except for seeds.

However, a second category deemed to feature more complex modifications will fall under the EU’s stricter GMO regime, including obligatory product labelling. This category will include herbicide-tolerant varieties.

To address concerns over control of NGT patents, the agreement included a requirement for crop developers to disclose patent details in a public database.

“The regulation will allow us to develop new plant varieties that are more resilient to climate change and require less fertilisers or pesticides,” Jacob Jensen, the minister for food, agriculture and fisheries in Denmark, which holds the rotating EU presidency, said in a statement on Thursday.

EU farming association Copa-Cogeca welcomed a “historic agreement”, saying it was the only initiative so far under the bloc’s Green Deal to offer practical solutions for farmers.

Environmental protection association Friends of the Earth condemned the loosening of rules for “new GMOs”, calling the deal a “free-pass given to the biotech industry”.

The preliminary agreement still needs to be voted on by the European Parliament and the EU’s council of member states before being put into law.

(Reporting by Gus Trompiz; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)