EU to relax curbs on genetically modified crops

BRUSSELS - The European Commission on Wednesday tabled a proposal to relax rules for genetically modified crops as part of the European Union's Green Deal.

"We want to give our farmers the tools to produce healthy and safe food, adapted to our changing climatic conditions, and with respect for our planet. This includes new rules on the use of new genomic techniques," Stella Kyriakides, European commissioner for health and food safety, said.

"By enabling the safe use of new genomic techniques, farmers will have access to more resilient crops that require less pesticides," Frans Timmermans, executive vice president for the European Green Deal, said.

The proposal also includes laws on soil monitoring, more diverse and sustainable plant and forest reproductive materials, such as seeds and cuttings, and on reducing food and textile waste.