GMO stands for genetically modified organisms. They are organisms whose genetic material has been artificially modified in order to give it a new property. For example, this could be to make it easier for a plant to resist a disease, insects or drought, or to increase crop productivity.

The EU's GMO legislation stems from 1990 when the first two directives concerning GMOs came into force. Both original directives have since been updated, but the definition of a GMO has remained unchanged. This is causing problems for new techniques developed since then. New plant genetic modification techniques, referred to as 'gene editing' or 'genome editing', have evolved rapidly in recent years, allowing much faster and more precise results than conventional plant-breeding techniques. They are seen as a promising, innovative field for the agri-food industry, offering great technical potential.There is, however, considerable debate as to how these new techniques should be regulated, and whether some or all of them should fall within the scope of EU legislation on genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

See more on this topic by visiting our <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/genetically-modified-organism-8th-parliamentary-term_6504_pk">package</a> for the 8th parliamentary term.

environmental protection (T)

food safety (T)

consumers' protection (T)

trade of GMOs (T)

cultivation of GMOs on the territory of Member States (T)

9th parliamentary term

Genetically modified organism

Infoclip: Research, innovation and science in the EU

Voting session

Voting Session

Infoclip: New genomic techniques

New genomic techniques: statement by Jessica POLFJÄRD (EPP, SE), extracts from the debate and votes

Plants obtained by certain genomic techniques and their food and feed: MEPs debate (Part 2)

Plants obtained by certain genomic techniques and their food and feed: closing statements by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality and Jessica POLFJÄRD, (EPP, SE), Rapporteur

EP Plenary session - Plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques and their food and feed

Plants obtained by certain genomic techniques and their food and feed: MEPs debate (part 1)

Infoclip: GMOs

Injection ,by the hand of man, of a new gene in the maize genome

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