EPSO urges the European Commission to take action to prevent the French draft legal proposal from being enacted.
The European Plant Science Organisation (EPSO) is concerned about the draft legal proposal on the genetic modification techniques mentioned in Article L531-2 of the French Environment Code, which would modify the list of techniques of mutagenesis exempt from the scope of the regulations on GMOs. In particular, the draft legal proposal would revoke the exception of in vitro random mutagenesis consisting of subjecting plant cells cultivated in vitro to chemical or physical mutagenic agents. This unilateral restriction of GMO Directive 2001/18/EC disregards scientific literature evidencing the history of safe use of in vitro random mutagenesis, ignores the ruling of the European Court of Justice (ECJ, case C-528/16) reiterating the exemption of all random mutagenesis techniques established before 2001, establishes barriers for research and innovation between member states and will be difficult to enforce by French authorities.
Click here to read: Full EPSO statement 08.07.2020, EPSO submission to the EC 08.07.2020
Contacts:
- Peter Rogowsky, INRAE, FR & EPSO AgT WG chair
- Jens Sundstrom, SLU Uppsala, SE & EPSO
- Karin Metzlaff, EPSO, BE