European Union: Commission Publishes Biotechnology Study

On April 29, 2021, the European Commission published a report titled, “Study on the status of new genomic techniques under Union law and in light of the Court of Justice ruling in Case C-528/16.” The Court of Justice ruling stated that products of genome editing fall under Directive 2001/18/EC. However, the Commission’s recent study concludes that this Directive is not “fit for purpose” for these newer products and a targeted policy action is needed. The study says that genome editing can contribute to the objectives of the European Green Deal’s Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies, and the Commission will engage in a wide-ranging communication effort with co-legislators and stakeholders in the European Union. In the third quarter of 2021, the Commission intends to publish an inception impact assessment on plants derived from certain applications of genome editing.