May the new EU regulatory proposals on plant breeding compromise innovation?Between the prospects of the NGTs’ proposal and the nonsense of the PRM proposal

  1. Vives-Vallés, Juan Antonio 1
  2. Riesgo, Laura 2
  1. 1 University of the Balearic Islands, Spain
  2. 2 Pablo de Olavide University, Spain
Journal:
Estudios de Deusto: revista de Derecho Público

ISSN: 0423-4847

Year of publication: 2024

Volume: 72

Issue: 1

Pages: 435-456

Type: Article

DOI: 10.18543/ED.3112 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openDialnet editor

More publications in: Estudios de Deusto: revista de Derecho Público

Abstract

The European Commission new regulatory proposals on new genome-edited plants and on plant reproductive material are set to revolutionize plant breeding and agriculture in the EU. This short communication analyzes the main features of such proposals with respect to the current regulatory frameworks in the EU, and discusses their foreseeable impact on European plant breeding innovation and agriculture. While there is no denying the potential advantages that the proposal on new genome-edited plants might bring, the proposed regulation is also complex and ambiguous, a matter already acknowledged by the specialized literature, and about which even some of the strongest advocates of the proposed regulation appear to show a certain degree of concern. If this is not corrected, the successful implementation of the proposal could be compromised. The proposal on plant reproductive material threatens to create new and probably unnecessary burdens for European plant breeders, farmers, and end consumers. Addressing the identified issues in the proposal on genome-edited plants, and drafting a new proposal on plant reproductive material aiming at reducing inefficiencies is suggested. Received: 21.12.2023Accepted: 10.05.2024

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