In times of the pandemic it was called to ban patents that are related to Covid-19 vaccines, medicaments, and diagnostics and the European Parliament was in favour of it. Now there is a call from the European Parliament to ban all patents on new genomics techniques (NTG) and plants. Quo vadis?
After two "Yes"-votes in the European Parliaments AGRI and ENVI committees, MEPs confirmed the European Commissions draft Regulation on New Genomic Technologies in plant breeding.
Following the AGRI Committee of the European Parliament, the lead ENVI Committee has also agreed to relax the rules for the authorisation of NGTs.
After the EU Parliament’s Agriculture (AGRI) Committee called for a patent ban on NGT-1 breeds on 8 January, the ENVI Committee will give its input to the EU Commissions draft law on new genomic techniques.
The European Court of Justice ruling from 2018 which put the latest breeding methods under the EU GMO legislation was a huge pushback for plant breeding innovation in the EU. With the proposal for a new regulation for certain new genomic techniques (NGTs) published on 5 July 2023, some faith in a rebirth of plant breeding innovation may just start to return.
At the EU Council (10-11 December), agriculture ministers did not reach the qualified majority required to adopt the adapted version of the EU Commissions draft regulation on new genomic techniques.
Biotechnology is helping us tackle challenges such as emerging diseases, the impact of ageing in healthcare, population growth, climate change, and the green transition of the economy. Precision medicines, advanced therapies, mRNA and gene editing technologies are transforming the way diseases can be diagnosed and treated, providing life-saving solutions. Biotechnology is also at the forefront of building a sustainable economy, developing better crops, providing new protein sources, and producing bio-based materials.
At a council meeting, a majority of EU agriculture ministers have supported the draft regulation on new genomic technologies (NGT) proposed by the EU Commission in early July.
According to Swiss bioethicists, deregulation of genetic engineering rules for plants optimised through targeted mutation and cisgenetics will make little contribution to climate protection by 2050.
