Genetically Modified Organisms: next steps for regional discussions for tailored regulations

On 29-30 November 2022, the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, supported by the FAO Liaison Office in Moscow, and the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) hosted а regional webinar on the legal framework for emerging biotechnologies in the plant breeding sector, focusing on international experience in the regulation of genetically modified seeds.

The objective of the webinar was to raise awareness on the potential impacts of emerging biotechnologies and genetically modified organisms on the Europe and Central Asia region and the need for an adequate policy framework with a specific focus on genetically modified seeds.  The event gathered policy makers, academics and researchers, civil society organizations, private sector, and FAO personnel from across the region and worldwide.

"The coordinated work of our teams on conducting webinars, such as today's, once again confirms the commitment of our organizations to deepen cooperation, which has been going on since 2013 within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding and the Action Plan until 2023," Vladimir Rakhmanin, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia, said in his opening remarks.

"The topic of today's meeting is as relevant as all the previous meetings” Mr Rakhmanin proceeded. The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) actively supports the Member States of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in strengthening trade, harmonization and improvement of the legislative framework, including those related to the regulation of import and export of seeds.

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is aimed at developing and implementing an effective legal framework for the use of Living Modified Organisms (LMO). The main purpose of the protocol is to ensure safe handling, transport and use of LMOs.

It is no news that technologies are a powerful tool for the sustainable development of agriculture, fisheries and forestry, as well as the food industry. When properly integrated with other food production technologies, biotechnology can provide significant assistance in meeting the needs of a growing and increasingly urbanized population in our millennium, especially in the conditions of climate change and reduction of natural resources for agriculture.

We also know, however, that there are different opinions on a number of aspects of biotechnology and its applications. Genetically modified organisms remain at the centre of intense debates.

FAO recognizes that genetic engineering has the potential to help increase production and productivity in agriculture, as well as in forestry and fisheries. It could lead to higher yields on marginal lands in countries that are currently unable to produce enough food to feed their people, especially in the increasingly complex conditions for farming.

At the same time, FAO is aware of concerns about the potential risks posed by certain aspects of biotechnology. These risks fall into two main categories: impacts on human and animal health, and consequences for the environment.

FAO supports a science-based assessment system that can objectively determine the benefits and risks of each individual Genetically Modified Organism. Possible impacts on biodiversity, environment and food security need to be studied. In addition, it is necessary to assess how much the benefits of product introduction will outweigh the predicted risks. The evaluation process should also take into account previous experience gained by the national regulatory authority related to the review and decision-making on similar cases.

Careful monitoring of the effects of genetically modified products after their introduction is also essential to ensure their safety for humans, animals and the environment.

"The development of modern biotechnologies and plant breeding and regulation of the turnover of seeds of genetically modified plants is important for agro-industrial complexes and for meeting the needs of the common seed market," Artak Kamalyan, Member of the Board (Minister) of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) for Industry and Agro-Industrial Complex, said during the webinar. “The Eurasian Economic Union is now actively forming a common seed market within the framework of the adopted regulatory framework” he proceeded. 

“In 2017, we concluded an agreement on seed production in the EAEU. The EAEU member countries import seeds worth more than one billion dollars annually. For crops such as sunflower, beetroot, rapeseed, the EAEU has a fairly high import dependence on third countries, and, first of all, on the European Union. The EU accounts for almost 90 percent of all seed imports. For these reasons, the issues of regulation and accounting of genetically modified plant varieties are extremely important for the EAEU and our partners in third countries.

Today, by joint efforts of the Union countries, the main obstacles affecting the free circulation of seeds have been eliminated, and mutual recognition of documents on varietal and sowing qualities of seeds has been ensured on the basis of the adopted unified methodological framework.

In 2021, the member countries of EAEU identified measures to unify national legislation in the field of seed production and agricultural plants, which should be completed by 2026. At this stage, an important component is the alignment of coordination of actions in regulating the marketing of seeds obtained by genetic engineering methods.

In order to prevent risks from unauthorized entry into the territory of the EAEU Member States of agricultural plants whose genome has been modified and contains genetically modified material, as well as to regulate the procedure for their marketing in the customs territory of the EAEU, to ensure state control in this area, the EEC, together with the EAEU Member States, conducts work on making appropriate amendments to the agreement on seed production.

I think that the experience of FAO member countries in this area will be useful for us and can be used to make changes to our regulatory documents.

I am confident that the opinions and recommendations voiced during our discussion will make it possible to more effectively realize the potential of the EAEU member states in the conditions of modern technological transformation of agricultural production,” concluded Artak Kamalyan.

In the event it was highlighted by Dr Jack Heinemann, School of Biological Sciences, Centre for Integrated Research in Biosafety (INBI), that GMOs are made using gene technologies and that “emerging techniques are not new technology” but “advances that increase their efficiency, range of users and range of species.” In his opinion, “coupled with new formulations, emerging techniques can be used outside at scale.”

And Dr Andreas Heissenbeger in his presentation explained why socio-economic aspects of LMOs/NBTs (New Breeding Techniques) are important and should be taken into account. “Risk assessment is absolutely necessary but covers only part of possible impacts an LMO (or product of new breeding techniques) might have.

FAO and the EAEU Member States are ready to continue collaborating in this area and to support the development of a legislative framework addressing the national and regional context. This process should always involve cooperation among researchers, policy makers, and other relevant stakeholders.