[REPONSE] Parlement européen, Question écrite à la Commission P-001807/2022 du 16 mai 2022, Tom Vandenkendelaere (PPE), Michaela Šojdrová (PPE) - Accélérer le processus législatif sur les nouvelles techniques génomiques à la lumière de la situation en Ukraine

Niveau juridique : Union européenne

Texte de la question :

« On 29 April 2021, the Commission published the results of its study on new genomic techniques (NGTs), such as CRISPR‑Cas. The study found that plant products obtained from NGTs have the potential to contribute to the objectives of the farm to fork strategy. These plants could be more resistant to diseases, more resistant to the effects of climate change and less dependent on pesticides or fertilisers. In its communication on safeguarding food security and reinforcing the resilience of food systems of 23 March 2022, the Commission points out the importance of making EU farmers less dependent on inputs and ensuring crop yields. Yet the Commission does not plan to put forward a legislative proposal on NGTs until the second quarter of 2023.

In the light of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, the Commission should opt to (temporarily) postpone proposals that will have a negative impact on food production and speed up those that will have a positive impact, such as the one on NGTs.

Is it therefore considering speeding up the legislative process for the proposal on NGTs in order to support food security in the EU and contribute to the objectives of the farm to fork strategy? »

Réponse de Mme Kyriakides au nom de la Commission européenne le 22 juin 2022 :

« The Commission is committed to carry out the preparatory work on a possible legislation for plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques in accordance with the Better Regulation principles. This implies considering evidence, gathering stakeholder views, considering impacts and best policy options in a transparent and timely manner. These activities have their timings to ensure a proper policy development process.

The Commission is currently preparing an impact assessment and has launched on 29 April 2022 a public consultation to seek views and evidence on a possible new regulatory framework for plants derived from these techniques (1). A legislative proposal, if appropriate in view of the outcome of the impact assessment, would be tabled during the second quarter of 2023. Even speeding up of the preparation of a possible legislative proposal would not alleviate the current short-term food security crisis.

The Commission also wants to point out that food security in the EU is not at risk.

(1) ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13119-Legislation-for-plants-produced-by-certain-new-genomic-techniques_en/public-consultation_en »

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