ASTA Welcomes EU Vote Advancing Plant Breeding Innovation

ASTA welcomed the European Parliament’s adoption of the European Union’s regulation on plants produced by New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). The vote, taken at second reading, completed the EU legislative process on June 17, clearing the way for the implementation process to start. 

ASTA has long championed science-based, risk-proportionate policy for plant breeding innovation, in the United States, alongside our partners in Europe, and the rest of the world. In a media statement issued shortly after the vote, Andy LaVigne, President and CEO of ASTA, highlighted that vote “is an important step towards recognizing the evolving nature of plant breeding and enabling continued innovation.” Coordinated regulatory approaches across major markets reduce trade friction and protect the freedom to operate, ensuring that farmers everywhere can access the latest tools. 

Read ASTA’s full press release on the vote here.  

For more information about ASTA’s plant breeding innovation global advocacy efforts, please contact Dr. Fan-Li Chou, ASTA Senior Vice President, Scientific Affairs and Policy.