The European Council has reached a provisional agreement with the European Parliament on a set of rules that establish a legal framework for new genomic techniques (NGTs), which guarantees a simplified process for NGT plants equivalent to conventional plants and addresses concerns regarding intellectual property and access to seeds.

One year after the entry into force of the regulation, the Commission will publish a study on the impact of patenting on innovation, on the availability of seeds to farmers and on the competitiveness of the EU plant breeding sector. The Commission will then indicate what follow-up measures are needed or publish a legislative proposal to address any issues found in the study.

The provisional agreement will now have to be endorsed by the Council and the Parliament before it can be formally adopted.