European scientists ask the European Parliament and European Commission to reconsider genome editing for agriculture and food production

The current interpretation of the European legislation (case C-528/16) prevents the use of genome editing for sustainable agriculture and food production in the EU.

In an Open Statement the European scientific community urges European institutions including the European Council, the new European Parliament and the upcoming European Commission, to recondsider that verdict and to consider making a small revision of the European legislation in order to harmonize it with the legal framework in other nations.

This would allow European scientists, breeders, farmers and producers to include genome editing – such as precision breeding techniques with CRISPR/Cas – as one of their tools to meet the future challenges of sustainable development.

Open Statement of the European scientific community to enable the potential of genome editing for sustainable agriculture and food production (pdf)

Source
The European Plant Science Organisation EPSO News