The Luxembourg Ministry of Health has submitted a new bill strengthening the law on genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
In response to the concern of Luxembourg citizens, who are overwhelmingly critical of the consumption of genetically modified foods and the risks posed by the release of GMOs into the environment, the government has agreed to a new bill submitted on 15 June 2018 by Minister of Health Lydia Mutsch.
This bill strengthens the legal base required to permanently ban the cultivation of genetically modified plants in Luxembourg. It therefore concretely supports the critical position on GMOs included in the 2013-2018 government programme. As a result, requirements for environmental risk assessment, especially with regard to long-term environmental impact, are becoming stricter. Control procedures and sanctions have been defined in order to be able to react quickly in case of danger or non-compliance.
In addition, the Ministry of Health, which until now has been responsible for the control of contained use, field trials (voluntary release without placing on the market) and placing on the market (import from third countries), has also become responsible for the cultivation of GMOs. The bill also creates the conditions to better regulate the use of GMOs in medical and biotechnology research, particularly in the field of cancer control (oncolytic virotherapy) and personalised medicine. Oncolytic virotherapy is one of the innovative methods under development to target tumors refractory to conventional surgical and radio / chemotherapeutic treatments. This oncological approach with genetically modified viruses is currently being tested in the treatment of various cancers and research in this field is progressing fast, including in Luxembourg.
Luxembourg has thus adopted a modern law, guaranteeing the protection of human health and the environment.
