Abstract: Recently, a number of novel plant breeding techniques(NPBTs)with great application prospect, such as oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis(ODM), zinc finger nuclease(ZFN)technology, cisgenesis/intragenesis, RNA-dependent DNA methylation(RdDM), reverse breeding, grafting(on GM rootstock), and agro-infiltration, have been developed rapidly in Europe.These techniques are more specific and targeted than conventional breeding methods, and thereby can provide more precise, rapid and efficient methods for breeders.The results from literature metrology showed that agro-infiltration and RdDM were the most commonly used techniques in EU, and Germany and the UK were the leading countries on the research of NPBTs.To date, it is being discussed whether the plants produced by these new techniques are captured by the EU’s GMO legislation, in particular directive 2001/18/EC.In the abundant reports published by relevant organizations, the classification and supervision of plants and products generated by NPBTs were extensively discussed.The risk assessment of plants by ZFN-3 and Cisgenesis/intragenesis was carried out by the European Food Safety Authority(EFSA)respectively.It was concluded that plants by cisgenesis had similar hazards with that produced by conventional breeding, whereas novel hazards might arise with intragenic and transgenic plants.In addition, the panel suggested that there would be fewer hazards for plants of ZFN-3 than conventional GMOs.

Key words: EU, new plant breeding techniques, GMO, regulatory