EU court rules GMO laws apply to gene-edited
plants
- Expert Reaction
26 July
2018
Europe’s highest court has ruled
that gene-edited crops should be subject to the same
stringent regulations as genetically modified
organisms.
The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that crops created through processes such as CRISPR are subject to the 2001 directive that legislates deliberate release of GMOs into the environment.
The Science Media Centre gathered
expert reaction on the ruling. Please feel free to use these
comments in your reporting. More comments from the UK SMC
are available on our website. We'll update that page
with any further
comments.
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Professor
Peter Dearden, Director Genomics Aotearoa and University of
Otago, comments:
also commented earlier in
the year on an FSANZ consultation on how to regulate
gene-edited food.
"The EU ruling that gene edited organisms need to be regulated in the same way as GMOs will be a major blow to those in the EU developing novel crops using gene editing techniques. Here in New Zealand, such a determination appears to have been already made, so the EU decision will have little impact here.
"The problem is that we, and the EU, yet again, are trying to regulate technologies rather than outcomes. Gene editing is a far more accurate way to make a mutation than standard mutagenesis techniques. That the more efficient, less damaging and more specific approach is the one vastly more heavily regulated is unfortunate. In the end, the key things to test are the risks and benefits of the organism to be released. Surely this is more important than the way it was made.
"What worries me, and our EU colleagues, is that these determinations will stop innovation in gene editing in NZ or the EU. That loss of capability and capacity will mean we will lose the ability to deploy a technology that, if well used, carefully assessed, and appropriately regulated, could be immensely beneficial to New Zealand in health, agriculture and conservation.
No conflict of
interest.
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Professor
Barry Scott, Massey University and co-chair of the Royal
Society Te Apārangi gene editing panel,
comments:
"This is hugely disappointing and
does not seem to take into account the significant
differences in the new gene editing technologies compared to
the older technologies. Subjecting the new technologies to
the rules and regulations of the older technologies does not
appear to take into account the increased scientific
knowledge and precision associated with the former. It
maintains a process of 'technology-based' regulation rather
than 'outcome-based' regulation which should be the basis of
a sound risk management decision making process.
"Such regulation will stifle innovation and development and make it very difficult for the agriculture sector to develop breeding solutions to a rapidly changing environment and therefore enhance the risks of real issues around food security associated with new diseases and the impacts of climate change."
No conflict of
interest.
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Dr
Kieran Elborough, General Manager Science, New Cultivar
Innovation, Plant & Food Research,
comments:
"It is important
to clarify that this is a court ruling to determine where a
technology fits within existing regulations, not a
scientific paper detailing the safety or efficacy of these
technologies. The decision by the EU court deals
specifically with how this technology is regulated in
Europe. This is an example of the challenges faced by
regulators as potential new solutions to important issues
such as food sustainability and security in the face of a
growing population and climate change emerge.
"Over time, it will be interesting to see whether new, more detailed regulations develop to restrict or enable this or other new technologies around the world, including in New Zealand.
"Gene editing is a relatively new technology and Plant & Food Research is investigating how we could apply this technology in plants, as proof of concept in containment. It’s important that we understand the potential of this technology and how this could be applied to benefit New Zealand. This will continue to inform any discussion in this country."
ends