Gene-edited food and feed to be labelled as genetically modified

FOOD and feed derived from novel gene-editing technology will from now on be considered genetically modified.

The EU’s top court ruled last week that gene-editing techniques such as CRISPR — which uses bacteria to suppress or enhance certain traits within an organism — has the same effect as introducing foreign DNA, and may pose a risk to human health and the environment. The technique is not covered under current EU health and safety rules because it didn’t exist at the time the rules came into effect in 2001.

Gene editing has been central to the development of herbicide-resistant seeds, which have enjoyed opt-outs from health and safety checks and labelling requirements.

A group of French agricultural unions challenged a French law exempting the products.

Landmark ruling

The landmark ruling means most food and feed using gene-editing technology will now have to be tested and properly labelled as genetically modified (GM).

Transparency campaigners Corporate Europe Observatory said the ruling was “a big victory for the environment, farmers and consumers”.

The group also slammed lobbying by “big agribusiness corporations” which they said had consistently tried “to escape EU safety rules”.

But the ruling was slammed by the French farming lobby, which said it sent a “bad signal” to farmers and consumers, and could stymie innovation.