European Parliament Releases Draft Report on the Proposal for the Regulation of Plants Obtained from New Genomic Techniques

Rhea-AI Summary

Cibus, Inc. supports the European Commission's proposal to regulate plants obtained from new genomic techniques (NGTs) and their food and feed. The proposed regulation introduces a 'Conventional-like' category for NGT products, aligning EU policy with trading partners in North and South America, Australia, and Japan. The report highlights the potential of NGTs to enhance agriculture and food production in Europe. Cibus' gene editing platform products, such as disease-resistant canola and oilseed rape with reduced seed losses, would fall under the 'Conventional-like' category.

• Draft report supports the European Commission proposal to introduce a new regulation on plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques (NGTs) and their food and feed
• Proposed regulation identifies a ‘Conventional-like’ category of NGT products that would be regulated as conventional varieties, bringing EU policy closer to that of trading partners in North and South America, Australia, and Japan
• Report states that new genomic techniques have the ability to enhance agriculture by making crops more resilient and sustainable whilst providing unprecedented opportunities for European agriculture and food production
• Under the proposal, products from Cibus’ gene editing platform such as canola and oilseed rape resistant to disease or with reduced seed losses would be considered ‘Conventional-like'
  

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cibus, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBUS), a leading agricultural technology company that develops and licenses plant traits to seed companies, acknowledged the European Parliament’s draft report on the European Commission proposal for regulation of plants obtained from New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). The proposal is a result of a European Commission study, requested by EU Member States, which concluded that EU GMO legislation was not fit for purpose in relation to applications of NGTs in plants. NGTs include a variety of gene editing techniques leading to genetic changes classed as targeted mutagenesis and cisgenesis.

The proposal describes a category of NGTs producing modifications that could be obtained in nature or by conventional breeding. These are determined to be ‘Conventional-like’ and would be regulated in the same way as conventional varieties. The proposal was adopted by the EU College of Commissioners at their meeting on July 5^th, 2023 and was passed to the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union for review.

“We welcome the proposal from the European Commission and the ambitious goals outlined by the European institutions,” said Tony Moran, Cibus Senior Vice President of International Development and Government Affairs. “Europe initiated discussions on these techniques in 2008 but has since been overtaken by a growing number of countries that are benefitting through more enabling legislation. The proposed regulations improve alignment with EU trading partners and a timely adoption would be a significant boost for innovators particularly in academia and small and mid-sized enterprises who are actively developing NGT products that could contribute to a sustainable EU agri-food system.”

The draft report, published by the European Parliament Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety on 19^th October, represents the first stage of their review and is a significant step in the passage of the proposal through the EU legislative procedure.

The draft report recognizes the Commission proposal as a solid starting point and recommends further improvements to ensure the best possible usage of the techniques in the EU. These include clarification of the criteria for conventional-like NGT plants, freedom of choice for organic farmers to use NGTs plants and ensuring a science-based verification procedure.

The Committee is aiming to finalise its report by January 2024 ahead of a vote in a plenary session of the European Parliament in February.

Source: Draft Report from European Parliament ENVI Committee Rapporteur can be found here via the following link:

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/ENVI-PR-754658_EN.pdf

About Cibus
Cibus is a leader in gene edited productivity traits that address critical productivity and sustainability areas for farmers such as diseases and pests which the United Nations estimates cost the global economy approximately $300 billion annually. Cibus is not a seed company. It is a technology company that develops and licenses traits to leading seed companies. Cibus’ focus is developing scale, multi-crop traits in the major global crops such as canola, rice, and soybean. Traits that can make a real impact in global agricultural productivity. Cibus is the technology leader in high throughput gene editing technology with its Trait Machine™ process. It enables Cibus to develop plant traits precisely and predictably at a fraction of the time and cost of conventional breeding. Cibus has developed a pipeline of five productivity traits including important traits for pod shatter reduction, disease resistance, and weed management. Its initial traits for pod shatter reduction and weed management are developed and are in commercial collaborations with leading seed companies. Its other pipeline traits, including Sclerotinia resistance, are in advanced greenhouse and field trial stages.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included herein, including statements regarding the benefits of the Act, Cibus’ operational performance, and Cibus’ strategy, future operations, prospects and plans, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend”, “expect,” “plan,” “scheduled,” “could,” “would” and “will,” or the negative of these and similar expressions.

These forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations and assumptions of Cibus’ management about future events, which are based on currently available information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and beyond the control of Cibus. There are many factors that could cause Cibus’ actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements, including factors related to: (i) risks associated with the possible failure to realize certain anticipated benefits of the transactions contemplated by the merger (the “Transactions”), including with respect to future financial and operating results; (ii) the effect of the completion of the Transactions on Cibus’ business relationships, operating results and business generally; (iii) the outcome of any litigation related to the merger agreement or Transactions; (iv) competitive responses to the Transactions and changes in expected or existing competition; (v) challenges to Cibus’ intellectual property protection and unexpected costs associated with defending Cibus’ intellectual property rights; (vi) increased or unanticipated time and resources required for Cibus’ platform or trait product development efforts; (vii) Cibus’ reliance on third parties in connection with its development activities; (viii) Cibus’ ability to effectively license its productivity traits and sustainable ingredient products; (ix) the recognition of value in Cibus’ products by farmers, and the ability of farmers and processors to work effectively with crops containing Cibus’ traits; (x) Cibus’ ability to produce high-quality plants and seeds cost effectively on a large scale; (xi) Cibus’ need for additional funding to finance its activities and challenges in obtaining additional capital on acceptable terms, or at all; (xii) Cibus’ dependence on distributions from Cibus Global, LLC to pay taxes and cover Cibus’ corporate and overhead expenses; (xiii) regulatory developments that disfavour or impose significant burdens on gene-editing processes or products; (xiv) Cibus’ ability to achieve commercial success; (xv) commodity prices and other market risks facing the agricultural sector; and (xvi) technological developments that could render Cibus’ technologies obsolete. In addition to these factors, other known and unknown risks and uncertainties may adversely affect such forward-looking statements and cause Cibus’ actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent Cibus’ views as of the date hereof. Cibus specifically disclaims any obligation to update such forward-looking statements in the future, except as required under applicable law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Cibus’ views as of any date subsequent to the date hereof.

CIBUS CONTACTS:

Investor Relations
Karen Troeber
ktroeber@cibus.com
858-450-2636

Jeff Sonnek – ICR
jeff.sonnek@icrinc.com

Media Relations
Colin Sanford
colin@bioscribe.com
203-918-4347

FAQ

What is the European Commission proposing regarding plants obtained from new genomic techniques?

The European Commission is proposing a new regulation to address plants obtained from new genomic techniques (NGTs) and their food and feed. It aims to introduce a 'Conventional-like' category for NGT products, aligning EU policy with trading partners in North and South America, Australia, and Japan.

How would the proposed regulation impact Cibus, Inc.?

Under the proposed regulation, Cibus' gene editing platform products, such as disease-resistant canola and oilseed rape with reduced seed losses, would be considered 'Conventional-like' and regulated in the same way as conventional varieties.

What are the benefits of new genomic techniques in agriculture?

New genomic techniques have the potential to enhance agriculture by making crops more resilient and sustainable. They provide unprecedented opportunities for European agriculture and food production.

What are some key recommendations from the draft report by the European Parliament Committee?

The draft report recognizes the Commission proposal as a solid starting point and recommends further improvements. These include clarification of criteria for conventional-like NGT plants, freedom of choice for organic farmers to use NGT plants, and ensuring a science-based verification procedure.

What is the timeline for the proposal's review and adoption?

The European Parliament Committee aims to finalize its report by January 2024, followed by a vote in a plenary session of the European Parliament in February.