The Regulation must now be formally adopted by the Council and the European Parliament. It is expected to be published in the Official Journal in the course of 2026 and to start applying two years later.
New genomic techniques, such as targeted mutagenesis and cisgenesis, are innovative tools that can drive progress in agriculture and the bioeconomy by enabling faster, more specific and more precise changes in plant varieties than those achieved with conventional breeding techniques. In the field of plant health, for example, CRISPR and related tools are already being used to edit and modify susceptibility genes, preventing the onset or development of infections caused by phytopathogens.
By targeting these genes, resistance has been achieved against infections caused by Phytophthora capsici, Blumeria graminis, Botrytis cinerea and Magnaporthe oryzae in crops such as tomato, wheat and rice. In the case of bacterial diseases, rice plants have been made resistant to several Xanthomonas species, and resistance has also been obtained against X. citri in grapefruit and sweet orange.
This technique has also been used successfully in woody crops such as Duncan grapefruit and sweet orange to produce resistance to X. citri, and in apple to combat Erwinia amylovora.
A long-awaited breakthrough after years of regulatory debate
The European Commission presented its proposal to regulate these techniques on 5 July 2023. Although the European Parliament adopted its position relatively quickly in April 2024, negotiations in the Council were lengthy and the file could not be concluded during the previous legislative term.
“Today’s agreement is a milestone in the use of innovation in agriculture. The new rules allow the use of key tools so that Europe’s agricultural and food sectors can compete on a global scale.
They will also help address growing challenges, such as new plant pests and diseases. With these new rules, the EU is aligning its legislation with scientific progress. This will open the market to SMEs and applications of new genomic techniques tailored to our specific needs, while respecting the EU’s strict safety standards,” said the European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, Oliver Várhelyi.
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For Antonio Villarroel, Director General of the Spanish Plant Breeders Association (Anove), “the EU finally seems ready to facilitate the use of innovative tools for plant breeders to develop and offer farmers new varieties that help them face climate change and fight emerging pests and diseases. These advances will also respond to market and consumer needs, from healthier products with better nutritional profiles to longer shelf life that helps reduce food waste.”
“The agreed text includes numerous additional elements that will require detailed analysis in order to assess their potential impact on practice, costs and administrative burden, both for operators and for the authorities responsible for oversight. Even so, Anove and Euroseeds, representing the plant-breeding sector in Spain and Europe, acknowledge the significant efforts made by the Danish Presidency of the Council during negotiations, whose firm leadership, commitment and consistent approach were essential to achieving the agreement,” the association stressed in a statement.
Thor Gunnar Kofoed, Chair of Copa-Cogeca’s Seeds Working Party, which brings together the main EU farming organisations and cooperatives, stated: “This agreement marks a turning point for European agriculture. New genomic technologies provide real and tangible tools to address current and future challenges related to climate, the environment and food security facing the EU.
It addresses the urgent need for solutions that help farmers adapt to rapidly changing conditions. We are satisfied with the outcome of the negotiations, as the compromise faithfully reflects the positions Copa-Cogeca has defended.”
