2715. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to urgently address concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61616/26]

On 17 June 2026, the European Parliament and the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2026/1388 on plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques and their products. The adoption of the Regulation followed extensive consultation across a broad range of stakeholders.

The Regulation ensures a high level of protection for human and animal health and the environment while enabling the development and placing on the market of plants and plant products contributing to EU innovation and sustainability objectives.

The Regulation makes the deliberate release and placing on the market of NGT plants subject to one of two procedures: verification to establish equivalence with conventional products (Category 1 NGT plants) or authorisation in accordance with relevant GMO legislation (Category 2 NGT plants).

NGT plants determined to meet the verification criteria (Category 1 NGT plants) are deemed equivalent to conventionally bred plants and are therefore subject to the provisions applicable to conventional products. Category 1 NGT plants and their products are not required to be labelled, except for seeds and other plant reproductive material to allow for transparency including for the organic sector where NGTs are prohibited.

My Department supported the Regulation, and this position was informed by several factors including: the scientific opinion from EFSA that NGTs plants are as safe as conventionally bred plants, engagement with our interagency GMO group, the outcome of our public National consultation which showed strong support for the proposal, the synergies of the proposal with broader EU environmental and sustainability objectives and its alignment with the Commission’s Vision for Agriculture and Food.

To help address current challenges in the agri-food system such as food security, climate change and biodiversity reduction, there is a need to adopt innovation and technology in the agricultural sector. NGTs have the potential to address these challenges and can deliver benefits to farmers, consumers and the environment.

The European Commission published an implementation strategy for Regulation (EU) 2026/1388 on 16 July. The strategy supports coordinated implementation by the Commission, Union bodies and agencies, and the Member States, and informs stakeholders and the public of planned actions.

In relation to expanding commercially viable Irish horticulture, the Government launched the stakeholder driven and informed National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027 to provide a roadmap for developing the Irish horticulture sector. Implementation of this strategy is ongoing.