Potential effects of asymmetric legal classification of gene edited plant products in international trade, from the perspective of the EU

Abstract

In the article we provide a comparison of approaches to the regulation of products of new genomic techniques in the European Union (EU), and its major trading partners in imported agricultural goods (Argentina, Brazil, Canada and the USA). We show the trade data and indicate potential problems resulting from discrepancies in the approach to the object of regulation in the compared countries, as well as resulting from practical difficulties in detection and supervision of products deregulated in non-EU countries. The wide application of genome editing in plant breeding, and lack of harmonisation in the legal classification of its products will result not only in problems with the world trade of agri-food products, but also with compliance with the EU GMO legislation. These discrepancies may also slow down the implementation of modern biotechnology innovations into plant breeding.

Keywords

• New genomic techniques
• Law
• GMO
• Authorization
• Risk assessment
• GMO detection