Biotech Act: ENVI Committee backs opinion balancing innovation with consumer and environmental safeguards

Members of the European Parliament's Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) Committee adopted their opinion on the first Biotech Act proposal on 1 October 2026. The vote was 53 in favour, 11 against and 5 abstentions.

Members tabled almost 450 amendments: twelve compromise amendments were agreed, covering most of them. The compromises cover the general biotechnology provisions within ENVI's competence and the amendments to specific regulations on the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), new approach methodologies, GMOs used in advanced therapy medicinal products and clinical trials, novel foods, regulatory sandboxes, and supplementary protection certificates for veterinary medicinal products.

The Commission also proposes amending the general food law to allow for a timelier…