EU member states have voted to establish rules for allowing and regulating new genomic techniques (NGTs) for crops and other plants.

NGTs are ways of manipulating plant genetics to improve sustainability and resilience.

Although the practice is considered scientifically distinct from the more controversial practice of genetic modification, EU law does not currently recognise the distinction, with the Council of the EU's decision today (Tuesday, April 21) aiming to change that.

Possible advantages of NGTs include drought resistance crops; tolerance to disease and pests; and improved yields.

A new regulation to allow the use of NGTs has been making its way through the council and the European Parliament for the last year or so.

The council said the new rules it has adopted will establish a framework to support a more competitive and sustainable EU agri-food sector.

The regulation still needs final sign-off from the European Parliament, after which it will enter into legal force. However, most provisions of the regulation will not come into effect until 24 months later, to allow time to adopt new rules.

The council said that the regulation is designed to enhance food security, reduce external dependencies and ensure a level playing field for European operators.

It will also maintain high standards for human and animal health and environmental protection, the council said.

The council described NGTs as modern techniques that make precise, targeted changes to plant DNA to develop improved varieties more quickly, including those better able to withstand drought, floods and other climate-related challenges.

The regulation will distinguish between two categories of NGTs.

Category 1, or 'NGT-1' will include plants that are considered equivalent to conventional varieties. National authorities will verify their status, but their offspring will not require further checks.

NGT-1 plants and products will not be labelled, except for seeds and other reproductive material, allowing operators to maintain NGT-free supply chains, if desired.

Certain traits, including herbicide tolerance and the production of insecticidal substances, are excluded from this category.

Category 2, or 'NGT-2', will include plants with more complex genetic modifications.

These remain subject to existing EU legislation on genetically modified organisms (GMOs), including authorisation, traceability and mandatory labelling.

Member states may opt out of cultivating NGT-2 plants and can introduce 'coexistence measures' to prevent unintended presence in other products.

The council said that NGTs emerged over the last decade due to advances in the field of biotechnology, but did not exist in 2001 when the EU's rules on GMOs was adopted, which is why all plants modified with NGTs are currently subject to the same rules as GMOs.