A new compromise on new genomic techniques (NGTs) will be discussed by the Ambassadors of the Permanent Representation of the Member States to the EU (COREPER). Ahead of the meeting, OPTA Europe calls to improve the text by providing the effective means for enforcing the right of organic food and drink makers to keep their products free from gene edition.
OPTA Europe highlights the areas in which the text must be improved to protect organic industry and consumers: Traceability and labelling along the supply chain – considering how complex supply chains can be, meeting the NGT-free commitment with the organic consumer can only be achieved through robust traceability measures -including labelling of NTG-derived products- throughout the food supply chain, so that each actor at every step is duly informed if products obtained from NGTs are involved.
Means to enforce the NGT-free rule on imports – in the absence of an harmonized approach with trading partners, EU importers of organic products need the technical means to identify in practice gene-edited products. Leaving this question unresolved will create trade disputes with international partners and will leave EU organic importers adrift, with an obligation to fulfil but no way of doing so.
Further information at www.opta-eu.org
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