Dear Readers,

On Wednesday, the EU Parliament adopted the New GMOs (or New Genomic Techniques, NGTs) Regulation. Unfortunately, MEPs failed to secure essential safeguards: traceability and labelling throughout the whole value chain, detection methods for all New GMOs, and effective measures to prevent patents on New GMOs to the detriment of small breeders, farmers and food operators.

The deregulation bill has thus been passed. All economic operators will have two years to adapt and implement it. Our article examines what the new law looks like and what it means for the Non-GMO sector.

Whether this is the final word on the matter remains to be seen: Several legal analyses have identified significant concerns regarding the compatibility of parts of the new legislation with existing EU law and international obligations. Investigations into how the adopted regulation can be legally challenged are already underway.

A recent ruling by the UK High Court shows that such challenges - brought by Beyond GM - can be successful. The Court has found that the government failed to properly assess the consequences of its approach to deregulating gene-edited organisms. According to the ruling, key impacts on removing safeguards on traceability, labelling and regulatory oversight were not considered adequately. The Court will decide in the coming weeks what consequences the ruling will have.

“How to deal with New GMOs in Non-GMO feed and food chains” was the topic of our 3rd International Non-GMO Summit one month ago. Our article summarises some key findings and shows that our industry is well prepared for the post-deregulation era.

This is my last ENGA newsletter as I am leaving the organization by the end of June. I would like to thank all our members and partners for their support, and I wish everyone plenty of positive energy as we face the challenges ahead.

Please support ENGA by distributing this newsletter within your network. To regularly receive our newsletter and get all the latest updates on Non-GMO in Europe, subscribe. Also keep in touch with ENGA by following us on LinkedIn.

Please feel free to inform your partners and networks about the work and goals of ENGA and help strengthen our collective voice in the European market and towards EU decision-makers by encouraging business platforms and companies to join ENGA and benefit from membership.

Kind regards,
Heike Moldenhauer
Secretary General