Dear all,

I found this interesting article, sorry if you already received it... :

"*Derailing EU rules on new GMOs*

CRISPR-Files expose lobbying tactics to deregulate new GMOs"

29.03.2021 https://corporateeurope.org/en/2021/03/derailing-eu-rules-new-gmos https://corporateeurope.org/en/2021/03/derailing-eu-rules-new-gmos

*Executive summary*

The biotech industry is waging an ongoing battle to get its new generation of genetic modification techniques excluded from European GMO regulations. This would mean that plants, animals and micro-organisms, made using ‘genome editing’ techniques like CRISPR-Cas, would not be subject to safety checks, monitoring or consumer labelling. Corporate Europe Observatory has uncovered various new tactics used by the biotech industry to prepare the ground for such deregulation. Officials from national ministries were hand-picked for joint strategy meetings with lobbyists; a think-tank set up a new Taskforce with a large grant from the Gates Foundation to pave the way to GM deregulation via "climate narratives"; and a lobby platform built around a sign-on letter overstating its backing by research institutes. The European Commission is due to publish a study by the end of April about the new techniques which will provide a basis for further discussion among Member States. Civil society and farming groups call on the EU to prioritise environmental and health concerns, and keep GM safety checks in place.