Literature horizon scan for new scientific data on plants and their products obtained by new genomic techniques (January 2022 to May 2025)

Abstract

The European Food Safety Authority has issued several scientific opinions on plants obtained through certain new genomic techniques (NGTs) following requests received by the European Commission. These scientific opinions provided considerations on the potential risks associated with NGTs, as compared to conventional breeding techniques and established genomic techniques (EGTs), and on the applicability of existing guidelines for the risk assessment of plants obtained by NGTs and products thereof. Against this background, EFSA was asked by the European Commission ‘to provide scientific and technical assistance for a regular horizon scanning to assess new scientific data on plants, animals, microorganisms and products thereof obtained by new genomic techniques’, to assess any new data and evidence emerging from these studies and to consider whether it may have implications for EFSA's relevant scientific opinions. A critical assessment of the quality and relevance of these studies should also be conducted, and biannual reports delivered to the Commission. This report presents the outcome of the pilot literature search on new scientific data on plants and products thereof obtained by NGTs, performed as described in the protocol made available for public consultation in May–June 2025. The report describes search strategies and inclusion/exclusion criteria applied for the literature review and presents the results of the assessment performed for new scientific data (January 22 to May 25) on plants and their products obtained by NGTs. The report discusses the limitations of the search and provides recommendations for improvement. EFSA concluded that none of the studies retrieved by the literature search contained new hazards or risks not previously considered in EFSA scientific opinions.