Letter to Members of the European Parliament on the Release of Genetically Modified Microorganisms

On September 28, 2026, the GFÖ’s Working Group on New Genetic Engineering drafted a document that examines a new proposal from the European Commission from an ecological perspective. In its current form, this proposal would allow for a lowering of safety standards regarding the release of certain genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs). Among other things, the Commission’s proposal introduces a new category of so-called “low-risk” GMMs for which it would be possible to waive an appropriate risk assessment. Furthermore, the release authorization would be valid indefinitely, and there are conditions under which monitoring would not be required. The letter was drafted in collaboration with a provisional working group of the EEF (European Ecological Federation) and outlines several important safety concerns that could arise from the implementation of the new proposal. Since the proposal will be debated on September 2 in the European Parliament’s Environment and Health Committees, this letter was sent to the members of those committees. They have until September 3 to submit proposed amendments.

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