Minister McConalogue announces Public Consultation on the EU Commission’s proposal for a Regulation on plants obtained by certain New Genomic Techniques
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue, today announced the opening of a public consultation process on the EU Commission proposal for a Regulation on plants obtained by certain New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). The consultation process will be open for a three-week period from 4 September 2023 to 25 September 2023.
Referring to the public consultation, the Minister said:
“I welcome the opening of this consultation on New Genomic Techniques. It is important that we engage with stakeholders and the public and to hear their views on this important issue, and I welcome the wide consultation already undertaken by the Commission in the preparation of this proposal”.
New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) provide new opportunities for the rapid development of plant varieties with specific characteristics. The potential for NGTs to deliver crops with improved traits in a faster way than conventional breeding can deliver benefits to farmers, consumers and the environment and can contribute to addressing current challenges in the agri-food system such as food security, climate change and biodiversity reduction.
On 5th July 2023, the EU Commission adopted its proposal for a regulation on plants obtained by certain New Genomic Techniques (targeted mutagenesis and cisgenesis) and derived food and feed products. The main aims of the proposal are to:
- maintain a high level of protection of human and animal health and of the environment,
- to enable the development and placing on the market of plants and plant products contributing to EU innovation and sustainability objectives,
- to ensure the effective functioning of the internal market in NGT plants and products and food and feed containing, consisting, or produced from NGT plants, and enhance the competitiveness of the EU agri-food sector at the Union and global levels, including a level playing field for its operators.
The Minister further commented:
“Innovation and new technology that contribute to meeting the challenges of climate change and biodiversity, while supporting the sustainability of food production is welcome and plays an important role in informing Ireland’s national strategy for sustainable food systems, Food Vision 2030. It is clear that we need a wide range of tools and to deploy them effectively if we are to achieve increased environmental ambition and develop sustainable food systems. However, we must also assess how each possible tool can best be used to help us meet the challenges of food security, climate change and biodiversity”.
Written submission should be sent by email to ngtconsultation@agriculture.gov.ie with reference to “NGT Proposal” in the subject line.
All submissions should include a short summary of not more than 300 words setting out the main points therein. Submissions from organisations or groups should include a brief background on the membership, aims and objectives of that organisation or group.
All written feedback to the proposal should be submitted by 4.00pm on 25 September 2023. Any submissions received after this deadline will not be taken into consideration.
A consultation notice is available on the Department’s website here.
ENDS
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