According to surveys, 94% of Austrians—and similar majorities in other EU countries—support maintaining full labeling requirements. The right to know what’s in our food is a fundamental right, not a luxury.

Frankenfood. Image: Ivan Babydov

On june 17, 2026, the European Parliament will vote in its second reading on the new regulation concerning plants derived from New Genomic Techniques (NGT). What’s at stake—and why consumer advocates, environmental groups, and civil society are sounding the alarm.

A Long-Standing Distrust of Genetic Engineering on the Plate

Skepticism toward genetically modified food runs deep in Europe. Since the 1990s—when the first genetically modified soy and corn varieties from the U.S. entered the market—many consumers have associated genetic engineering in food with terms like “Frankenfood,” uncontrollable risks, and an agricultural sector dominated by agribusiness giants. Scandals such as BSE (mad cow disease) and dioxin-contaminated chicken further eroded trust in food authorities and industry—even though these cases had nothing to do with genetic engineering. Yet the distrust persisted.

Another factor is the loss of control: If consumers cannot identify genetically modified ingredients in their food—because they are not labeled—they cannot make informed choices. Many see this as an infringement on their personal autonomy. Additionally, NGT plants raise a fundamental ethical question: Should humans interfere with the genetic makeup of crops, with consequences that could unfold across generations and ecosystems in ways no one can fully predict today?

What Is Being Voted On?

At its core, the vote concerns how plants modified using modern methods like the CRISPR-Cas gene-editing tool should be regulated. The trilogue compromise—negotiated between the European Parliament, Council, and Commission—divides NGT plants into two categories: NGT-1 plants (those without inserted foreign DNA) would be largely equated with conventionally bred varieties, exempting them from strict EU GMO regulations. This would eliminate the current approval requirement and—most controversially—the mandatory labeling in food products.

On june 15, the Parliament’s Environment Committee (ENVI) will hold a special session to discuss the 37 proposed amendments and formulate a recommendation for the plenary.

The Voting Procedure and Its Pitfalls

The second reading includes a parliamentary peculiarity that concerns critics: To overturn or amend the trilogue text, an absolute majority of all Parliament members (at least 361 out of 720 votes) is required. If no absolute majority votes for a change or rejection, the Council’s text is automatically adopted. Even abstentions and absences effectively count as votes in favor of the compromise.

The EU Council had already approved the trilogue text on april 21, 2026, with a qualified majority.

Health Risks: Many Unanswered Questions

From a medical and toxicological perspective, there are concerns that science has not yet fully addressed. Critics point out that targeted genetic interventions—even without inserted foreign DNA—can trigger unintended changes in the genome, known as “off-target effects.” These could lead to plants producing unknown or altered metabolites, whose effects on the human body are poorly studied.

Particularly concerning: Under the new regulations, NGT-1 plants could enter the market without the previously required safety assessments and long-term studies. For people with allergies or pre-existing conditions, this is a major issue—if they don’t know a product contains genetically modified ingredients, they cannot establish potential links to health problems.

Independent scientists and several European authorities therefore demand that the precautionary principle be consistently applied to NGT plants: Comprehensive testing first, then approval—not the other way around.

Criticism from Consumer Advocates and Civil Society

The criticism from consumer and environmental protection circles is multifaceted and sharp. At the heart of the protest is the near-elimination of labeling requirements for NGT-1 plants: According to surveys, 94% of Austrians—and similar majorities in other EU countries—support maintaining full labeling requirements. The right to know what’s in our food is a fundamental right, not a luxury.

Additionally, 93 civil society organizations from across Europe warned in a joint letter to the ENVI Committee that the draft regulation violates the European precautionary principle. If genetically modified plants are released into the environment without adequate risk assessment, the consequences for ecosystems and biodiversity could be irreversible—according to warnings from several scientific authorities.

There’s also the unresolved patent issue: While the compromise includes intentions to restrict seed patents, the actual patent-granting practices of the European Patent Office (EPO) remain unchanged—since the EPO is not subject to EU law. Critics fear that a handful of large corporations could expand control over patented seeds, pushing independent breeders and farmers into dependency. According to a survey by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft bäuerliche Landwirtschaft (AbL), 80% of respondents oppose patents on seeds.

Organic farming also faces a problem: Organic farms that do not want to use NGT plants could be seriously affected by cross-pollination and the lack of labeling requirements—without legal recourse.

What Happens Next?

If Parliament approves the trilogue text unchanged on Wednesday, the regulation will enter into force. If it is amended by an absolute majority, negotiations with the Council and Commission on the contested points must resume. An absolute majority rejection would end the entire legislative procedure.

Observers consider the latter unlikely. More probable is that MEPs will attempt to push through targeted amendments, at least to reinstate labeling requirements or impose stricter patent restrictions.

One thing is certain: The june 17 vote will determine whether European consumers will have the right to know what’s on their plates—or not.

By Okay Altinisik | 13-6-2026, 9:08:21