EU embraces ‘product-based’ gene editing rules – delivering long-sought model for Bayer, Syngenta and Corteva

The European Parliament has adopted new rules for plants developed using new genomic techniques (NGTs), shifting the EU from process-based to product-based regulation and aligning with models promoted by global agribusiness giants like Bayer, Syngenta, and Corteva. The legislation introduces a two-tier system: NGT-1 plants with changes comparable to conventional breeding will be fast-tracked and treated like traditional crops, while NGT-2 plants with more complex modifications will remain under GMO oversight. Industry groups have welcomed the changes as promoting innovation and competitiveness, but NGOs argue this amounts to deregulation, warning of risks to consumers, farmers, and organic supply chains. As the rules move toward implementation, debate continues over transparency, labelling, and safeguards.