b'The EU GMO Directive isNo Longer Fit for PurposeEurope is updating their GMO framework and studying Novel Genomic Techniques.Petra Jorasch AFTER THE RULINGof theesis techniques. The EU Commission European Court of Justice (ECJ) inrequested a report from the JRC and the case C-528/16 on mutagenesis breedingEuropean Network of GMO Laboratories that put all products resulting from any(ENGL) responsible for the development kind of mutagenesis breeding under theof detection methods for genetically GMO definition of the European Directivemodified organisms. The main outcome 2001/18, the seed sector internallyof the report summarizes that based on discussed on its positioning regardingthe current knowledge and technical the way forward. An update of Directivecapabilities, it is unlikely that a detec-2001/18 is seen as the only legally possibletion method for a genome-edited plant approach to overcome the challenges thatproduct with single nucleotide variations the ECJ ruling put on plants resulting fromor short insertion/deletions would fulfil mutagenesis breeding. This update shouldthe performance requirements for meth-be as targeted as possible on the baseods of GMO testing. Even in case a DNA of excluding those plants from the GMOalteration is detected, there are currently regulations that also can also result fromPetra Jorasch, manager of Plant Breedingno procedures established that facilitate natural or earlier mutation processes.and Innovation Advocacy for Euroseeds. an unambiguous conclusion that genome editing has created the alteration versus Updating Europes GMO Frameworkkey to improve the environmental sustain- spontaneous mutation or conventional The ruling created strong reactions fromability and economic competitiveness ofmutagenesis methods. This means that scientists who called upon all relevantthe EUs high-quality agri-food produc- if a suspicious product with an unknown bodies in the European Union (EU) andtion system. While Euroseeds also sharesor non-unique DNA alteration would be beyond to establish a dedicated inter- the objective to change the EUs GMOdetected on the EU market, it would be national policy forum for further delib- Directive to free advanced mutagenesisdifficult or even impossible to provide erations and collaboration in shapingbreeding from the provisions for trans- court-proof evidence that the modified tomorrows GMO governance frameworkgenic crops, we recommend a simplersequence originated from genome edit-and advancing the public dialogue.legal approach to effectively excludinging. Therefore, plant products obtained Leading scientists representing moreproducts of old and new mutagenesisby genome editing may enter the than 127 European plant and life sciencesbreeding from its scope.EU-market undetected.research centres and institutes have endorsed a position paper that urgentlyUndetected Genome-EditedNew EU Commissions and NBTscalls upon European policy makers toProducts Based on a decision of the EU-Council safeguard innovation in plant scienceThe outgoing EU Commission startedin November 2019, the EU-Commission and agriculture. Young PhD studentsdiscussions on the consequences of thewas asked to present a study by the from Wageningen University even startedruling with EU Member States who areend of April 2021 on the status of Novel a European Citizen Initiative Growresponsible to implement and enforceGenomic Techniques (NGTs). Depending Scientific Progress to force the EU com- the GMO Directive. A number of EUon the outcome of this study, the mission to update the EU GMO legislation.Member States addressed concernsEU-Commission might come up with a Euroseeds shares the conviction thatwith implementing the ruling due to thelegal proposal. The term NGT as used in plant breeding and crop improvementpotential genetic indistinguishability ofthe study refers to techniques, which are are crucial for all European citizens andplants resulting from targeted mutagen- capable of altering the genetic material 64/ SEEDWORLD.COMINTERNATIONAL EDITION 2020'