Questions and answers on genome editing and CRISPR/Cas9
Changes compared to the version of 27 October 2022: Update on the new EU regulation on the use of NGT in plants, question on the market situation in the EU
What it's about:
Genome editing is a collective term for new methods that make it possible to carry out targeted interventions in the genetic material (genome) of a cell. The potential applications of CRISPR/Cas9 in particular have already been described in a large number of publications. The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) is scientifically monitoring this development in the interests of consumer health protection. In the following, the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment has answered the most important questions on the subject of genome editing and in particular on the CRISPR/Cas9 method.
In April 2017, a group of scientific experts from the European Commission published an assessment of new technologies in agricultural biotechnology.
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) made a legal assessment that genome editing is part of genetic engineering in a judgement in July 2018:
External Link:http://curia.europa.eu/juris/liste.jsf?language=de&td=ALL&num=C-528/16
The possibilities of detection of food and feed produced using new mutagenesis methods were analysed by the European Network of GMO Laboratories (ENGL).
On 14 March 2025, the Polish proposal (ST-6426/25) for a new regulation for applications of new genomic techniques (NGT) in plants was adopted by the Council of the EU by qualified majority. This means that the trilogue procedure between the Commission, the EU Parliament and the Council can begin with the aim of establishing a new EU regulation for NGT applications in the future.