[REPONSE] Parlement européen, Question écrite à la Commission E-004440/2019 de Johan Van Overtveldt et Geert Bourgeois – nouvelles techniques de sélection

Niveau juridique : Union européenne

Texte de la question :

« In response to a question tabled by Mark Demesmaeker, MEP, concerning new breeding techniques (E-006173/2018), the previous Commission replied as follows: ‘The Commission is now considering the need to consult the European Food Safety Authority regarding the applicability of current risk assessment guidance to products obtained with new mutagenesis techniques.’ Ms Kyriakides stressed at her hearing that, in considering new breeding techniques, as with regard to other matters, we should be guided by the science.The European Green Deal (COM(2019) 640) indicates the role that should be played by these new techniques: ‘The EU needs to develop innovative ways to protect harvests from pests and diseases and to consider the potential role of new innovative techniques to improve the sustainability of the food system, while ensuring that they are safe.’

1 Does the Commission acknowledge that new breeding techniques play an important role in the transition to more sustainable food production and are a key element in the implementation of the Green Deal ?

2 Does the Commission acknowledge that, if organisms obtained by means of these techniques are regulated as GMOs, that will effectively prevent the techniques from being used ?

3 What will the Commission do in concrete terms so that European farmers can reap the benefits of these techniques, which are the fruit of European innovation ? »

Réponse donnée par Ms Kyriakideson au nom de la Commission européenne

« 1 and 2. Based on Article 241 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the Council has requested the Commission (1) to submit a study, by 30 April 2021, regarding the status of novel genomic techniques (NGTs) under Union law in light of the Court of Justice’s judgment on mutagenesis in Case C-528/16. In the study, the Commission intends to provide a state-of-play on the implementation and enforcement of the Genetically Modified Organisms legislation, as regards NGTs, based inter alia on contributions from targeted consultations of Member States and stakeholders. These consultations will also provide views on the potential benefits and concerns associated to the use of these techniques.

3. The Council has also requested the Commission to submit a proposal, if appropriate in view of the outcomes of the study, or otherwise to inform the Council on other measures required as a follow-up to the study.Since the study is at initial stage, the Commission is not in a position to anticipate its outcome and, as a result, cannot prejudge possible measures that might be required as a follow-up to the study

(1) OJ L 293, 14.11.2019, p. 103–104  »

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