Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi has defended the EU's proposed regulation on new genomic techniques (NGTs) and the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, arguing both will benefit hardworking farmers rather than harm them. In a written answer to a parliamentary question from Greek MEP Kostas Papadakis (NI), Várhelyi said the NGT regulation would help small farmers access climate-resilient crops, reduce dependence on synthetic fertilisers, and boost domestic protein production, thereby strengthening strategic autonomy. He also rejected concerns that the Mercosur deal would concentrate production in big corporations, pointing to tariff reductions on EU agri-food exports and safeguards for sensitive sectors like beef and poultry.
The answer, dated 9 July 2026, responds to Papadakis's question about the Commission's proposal for a regulation on plants obtained by NGTs, which distinguishes between NGT1 plants (exempt from risk assessment, labelling, and traceability) and NGT2 plants (subject to existing GMO rules). Papadakis had argued that exempting NGT1 from labelling would increase imports from non-EU countries and worsen farmers' plight, and that the overall agri-food strategy, including the Mercosur deal, favours agro-industrial groups.
Várhelyi's answer contains no new concrete proposals or numerical targets, instead reiterating the Commission's existing policy orientation: enabling innovation and competitiveness in the agri-food sector while maintaining safeguards. The NGT proposal remains under negotiation in the European Parliament and Council, with no final adoption date set. The Mercosur Interim Trade Agreement has been provisionally applied since 1 May 2026.