EU Regulation of New Plant Breeding Technologies and Their Possible Economic Implications for the EU and Beyond

New plant breeding technologies (NPBTs), including CRISPR gene editing, are being used widely, and they are driving the development of new crops. They are nevertheless a subject of criticism and discussion. According to a summer 2018 interpretation by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) applying an absolute interpretation of the precautionary principle, European Union (EU) law makes most NPBTs subject to regulations governing the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the EU. This contribution summarizes the status of the debate and highlights issues that have thus far not been considered—particularly with regard to the implications of EU regulations for NPBTs for countries outside the EU.