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The European Parliament has officially approved a regulation governing crops developed with New Genomic Techniques (NGT), creating a new EU legal framework for next-generation breeding technologies, including gene-edited crops. The decision follows years of scientific research and policy negotiations among the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission.
The regulation shifts Europe’s approach from primarily examining the breeding method to prioritizing the final genetic characteristics of the crop to determine the appropriate regulatory pathway. Under the new rules, NGT crops are divided into two groups with different regulatory requirements.
NGT-1 covers crops with limited genetic changes, comparable to changes that could occur naturally or through traditional breeding. Once a crop is confirmed to meet NGT-1 criteria, it will be regulated similarly to conventionally bred crops and will not be subject to the EU GM regulation process. However, crops edited to be herbicide- or pest-resistant will not be classified under NGT-1.
NGT-2 includes crops with deeper or more complex genetic changes. These crops remain within the EU GM regulatory scope, including risk assessment, pre-marketing authorization, traceability and mandatory labeling.
The classification and regulatory approach apply to crops developed in Europe and to products imported into the EU.
The regulation is designed to promote breeding innovation while maintaining transparency, safety and farmers’ rights.
The regulation also requires monitoring the sustainability impacts of NGT crops to ensure the technology supports environmental objectives, climate adaptation and sustainable agricultural development. It further sets intellectual property rules intended to balance innovation incentives with access to technology. NGT can be patented, except for traits or gene sequences that already exist in nature or are produced through natural biological processes.
After the vote, Jessica Polfjärd, the Parliament’s rapporteur on the NGT dossier, said: “This is a historic victory for European farmers and Europe’s future. By approving New Genomic Techniques, we have chosen innovation, competitiveness and food security. European farmers have long sought access to advanced breeding tools to develop crops with greater resilience and reduced dependence on crop protection chemicals. By enabling safe, science-based breeding technologies into practice, Parliament is meeting farmers’ needs, ensuring food security, and building a more competitive, innovative Europe.”
The decision was also supported by more than 30 organizations representing Europe’s agricultural-food value chain. In a joint statement dated 17 June 2026, the organizations said the framework provides a balanced, science-based approach that promotes breeding innovation while ensuring transparency, safety and legal clarity. They argued it would help develop crops better able to cope with climate change, pests and diseases, improve resource-use efficiency and strengthen food security.
CropLife International welcomed the approval, describing it as a milestone for agriculture, the food system and innovation in plant breeding. The group said implementation and continued outreach will be important to translate scientific advances into practical farming.
The International Seed Federation (ISF) also welcomed the formal adoption. ISF Secretary General Michael Keller said the decision is a positive signal for innovation and scientific progress and brings Europe closer to other regions that foster crop-breeding innovation.
The Parliament’s approval completes a legislative process advanced in 2025. In December 2025, Parliament and the Council reached a political agreement on the core contents of the EU’s NGT regulatory framework. The European Commission described the agreement as a breakthrough to promote innovation in crop breeding while maintaining high safety and environmental standards.
The regulation will take effect 20 days after publication in the Official Journal and will apply two years later. Implementation will include monitoring mechanisms to assess the economic, environmental and social impacts of NGT crops.
Outside Europe, many NGT crops have already been commercialized or are in late-stage development, including gluten-free wheat, disease-resistant potatoes and drought-tolerant maize.
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