The European Parliament's ENVI committee on 23 June 2026 debated its opinion on the European Biotech Act, with members staking out divergent positions on intellectual property and regulatory modernization. Rapporteur Nicolás González Casares (Spain, S&D) stressed the need to balance innovation with strategic autonomy, public health, and consumer protection. He supported regulatory sandboxes but opposed extending supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) without an impact assessment, arguing that monopolies do not guarantee innovation. Stine Bosse (Denmark, Renew) pushed for modernizing EFSA's mandate to accelerate novel food approvals, citing EU reliance on imported proteins and vitamins. Martin Häusling (Germany, Greens/EFA) backed the rapporteur's call for balance, rejecting SPC extensions and excluding novel foods from sandboxes to protect consumer trust. He called for stronger EFSA resources and independent risk assessment. Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis (S&D, co-rapporteur in the lead committee) welcomed the opinion and stressed faster clinical trials and pan-European projects.
Commission representative Cristina Modoran highlighted convergence on clinical trials and defended SPC extensions as a targeted, conditional tool requiring EU-based trials and manufacturing. The deadline for amendments is 25 June 2026. The debate exposed a cleavage between those prioritizing innovation incentives (SPCs, faster approvals) and those emphasizing public health safeguards and strategic autonomy. Biotech firms would benefit from SPC extensions and faster novel food approvals, potentially increasing R&D investment and market access. Patients and health systems could gain from accelerated clinical trials and new therapies, but may face higher costs if SPCs delay generic competition. Food producers would see faster access to novel ingredients, though consumer trust could be undermined if risk assessment is weakened. The final opinion will feed into the lead committee's report, with the Commission expected to present a legislative proposal later this year.