The European Commission Wants To Put an End to GMOs

On July 5, 2023, the European Commission adopted a proposal to deregulate GMOs. In particular, it proposes to change the definition of a GMO. As a result, most current GMOs will no longer be considered as such. They will therefore be exempt from the (much-discussed) risk assessment, detection and traceability methods, labelling and post-marketing monitoring required under Directive 2001/18. The proposed semantics are far-sighted, aimed at anticipating future and as yet unknown biotechnological developments, with a very broad deregulation proposed.

After an initial unofficial version was circulated two weeks ago, the European Commission has finally adopted and made public a new, official and discreetly modified proposal. Contrary to its own assertions, this proposal aims to deregulate GMOs in Europe. Discussions will now begin with the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament on the basis of a document which, as of July 21, 2023, is only available in English…

One thing is already certain: the European Commission’s ambition is to have virtually no plants defined as GMOs in Europe in the decades to come (and therefore subject to risk assessment, authorization, labelling and traceability). In this article, Inf’OGM details the form and content chosen by the Commission. The aim is nothing less than to change the European definition of GMOs, which has been in force for over thirty years.