EU-27: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual
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The European Union’s (EU) complex and lengthy policy framework for biotechnology creates a challenging environment for research and limits access to innovative tools for EU farmers. The EU produces very few genetically engineered (GE) crops but it imports large amounts of GE feed. In July 2018, the European Court of Justice issued its judgment that organisms created through innovative biotechnologies should be regulated as GE organisms in the EU. Scientists and professionals in the agriculture and food sectors warned that this judgment could harm research and agriculture in the EU and create trade disruptions. As a result of these strong reactions and upon specific requests of some Member States, the Council of the EU has asked the European Commission to propose options to update the EU policy framework by April 2021.
