EU: Council and Parliament Reach Deal on New Genomic Techniques
On December 4, 2025, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on a set of rules that would establish a legal framework for new genomic techniques (NGTs). The term NGTs covers a variety of techniques that adapt seeds in ways that can also occur in nature or through conventional breeding techniques.
Under the provisional agreement, NGT plants that are equivalent to conventional plants—termed “NGT-1 plants”—will be treated like conventional plants. National authorities must verify that NGT plants belong to this category, but their offspring do not need to be subsequently verified. Labeling requirements will apply only to seeds.
Plants with more complex or less “natural-equivalent” genomic modifications—termed “NGT-2 plants”—will be subject to existing legislation for genetically modified organisms (GMOs), including mandatory labeling of products.
The provisional agreement must now be endorsed by the Council and the Parliament before it can be formally adopted.
India: Food Importers Required to File Copy of Label With Customs Declaration
The Single Window Interface for Facilitating Trade (SWIFT 2.0) is an initiative by India’s customs authority to enable importers and exporters to submit documents electronically. As part of new requirements associated with the rollout of this system, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) requires that importers file a copy of the food label as part of the customs documentation. For more information, see Circular No.29/2025/Customs, issued by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs, available here.
USA: California Law Requires Restaurants to Label Major Allergens on Menus
California has enacted a law requiring chain restaurants to list “major food allergens”—including tree nuts and peanuts—on their menus when used as ingredients in food items. The new rules will apply as of July 1, 2026.
Under the new law, chain restaurants with 20 or more locations will be required to provide written notification of the major food allergens that the food facility knows or reasonably should know are contained as an ingredient in each menu item.
Disclosures may be listed either directly on the menu (in the form of a written statement below or immediately adjacent to the menu item) or in a digital format (including, but not limited to, a QR code linking to the restaurant’s digital menu).
Highly refined oils derived from tree nuts or peanuts are not subject to the allergen disclosure requirement.