Skip to content
for a responsible, fair & sustainable food system

Joint statement on the deregulation of GMOs in Europe

Posted 11th February 2025 in News

More than two hundred organisations from across Europe and internationally have called on European countries to stop the deregulation of new GM plants. In a joint statement, the groups – which represent European farmers, the food sector and civil society – highlight the potential risks of new GMOs for human health and nature.

The action draws attention to the many unresolved issues that persist as Europe rushes to remove safeguards and protections over new GMOs. The concerns include patents, identification and detection methods, the price of seeds, seed diversity, coexistence, negative socioeconomic impacts and risk of further corporate control of the food chain.

GM Freeze’s Leonie Nimmo said:

“We are happy to join with international civil society calling for an end to this corporate-driven process to deregulate new GMOs in Europe. This threatens our seed heritage, biodiversity and a climate-resilient future for our food system. Deregulation will mean more concentration of power in our food systems. EU leaders must block deregulation of new GMOs to protect small & medium plant breeders & farmers – for everyone’s sake.”

Woman working with crops. The overlaid text reads: Do you love your small and medium-sized farmers and organic farmers? Woman tending grapes. The overlaid text reads: They could soon face threats to their livelihoods due to the deregulation of GMOs
Hands holding corn kernels. The overlaid text reads: The new EU proposal will increase the control of just a handful of companies over seeds, disadvantaging small- and medium-sized breeders A tractor working in a field. The overlaid text reads: This can weaken our food chain and reduce seed diversity, which is critical for farmers to adapt to local farming conditions and climate change
An ear of corn. The overlaid text reads: Crops and wild plants produced with new gene editing techniques would be excluded from existing regulations, requiring GMOs to undergo mandatory labelling, safety checks and detection methods A hand stirring a pot of vegetables. The overlaid text reads: This puts GMO-free European businesses at risk of cross-contamination, with no mandatory labelling, safety checks or detection methods. As consumers, we'll be left in the dark about what's really on our plates.
A protect march. The overlaid text reads: On 14 February, EU governments will meet to discuss the deregulation proposal. Tap the link pin bio to read our joint statement with 200+ other organisations opposing the new law A butterfly on wildflowers. The overlaid text is the logos of Greenpeace, Crocevia, IFOAM, Nordic Maize breeding and Pollinis

See also: