European Union
May 4, 2026
Ahead of the upcoming plenary vote, a broad coalition of European agri-food value chain partners has addressed Members of the European Parliament, urging them to support the adoption of the proposed Regulation on plants derived from new genomic techniques (NGTs), in line with the trilogue compromise reached in December 2025 and without further amendments.
The signatories emphasise the urgent need for a clear and workable EU legal framework to enhance the competitiveness, resilience and sustainability of the European agri-food sector. Moreover, they highlight that faster and more efficient breeding innovation is essential to address increasing challenges such as climate change, pest pressure and market volatility, while ensuring alignment with international developments.
The compromise text introduces a key distinction between conventional-like NGT plants (Category 1) and those remaining under GMO legislation (Category 2). Category 1 plants, equivalent to conventionally bred varieties, would be regulated under existing seed and plant marketing rules following verification. According to the signatories, this differentiation is fundamental for ensuring a functional and proportionate regulatory system across the value chain.
The agreed text also includes provisions on transparency, such as seed labelling for NGT1 varieties, and strikes a balance between intellectual property protection and access to innovation under fair and non-discriminatory conditions.
Describing the trilogue outcome as a balanced and pragmatic solution, the organisations warn that reopening the text through amendments would risk delaying implementation and undermining Europe’s ability to keep pace with global innovation, and call therefore on Members of the European Parliament to endorse the compromise in the upcoming committee and plenary votes.
Read our open letter
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