Deregulation of plants obtained by New Genomic Techniques – Update & Outlook

Presentation on EU deregulation of NGT plants: timeline, trilogue outcomes (NGT1 treated as conventional, limited labelling, no monitoring), pipeline and cultivation status, legal challenge options and suggested actions for NGOs, breeders and consumers.

LLD Forum, 24.5.2026

This slide presentation by Lena Hüttmann (Alliance for GMO-free seed work, IG Saatgut) provides an update and outlook on the proposed EU deregulation of plants obtained by New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). It summarises the EU negotiation timeline and recent votes in Council and the European Parliament processes, outlines the trilogue outcome for NGT1 plants (treat NGT1 as equivalent to conventional plants with a short admission procedure, disqualification of herbicidal/insecticidal traits, limited labelling only for reproductive material, no mandatory monitoring or risk assessment), and highlights policy gaps (no obligation to publish detection methods, no coexistence measures, no opt-out, and no ban on patents). The presentation reports on NGTs in cultivation (four plants in 2026) and a pipeline of 108 crops across 32 species with developers in 21 countries, lists common target traits, and explains legal avenues including potential lawsuits before the Court of Justice of the EU (three-month window after the Brussels decision). It concludes with actions for NGOs, breeders, farmers and consumers (preparing amendments, considering legal challenges, joining demonstrations) and references Testbiotech as a source. The slides also include basic explanations of NGTs, CRISPR-Cas functioning, and notes on a working group and workshop plans.

Key topics: NGTs, EU seed policy, deregulation, CRISPR, legal challenge, organic farming ban, detection methods, pipeline, LLD Forum, LLD2026

Author: Lena Hüttmann

Year: 2026

Pubblication Type: presentation

Organisation: IG Saatgut

Project: LLD Forum