Szabolcs (Szabi) Ruthner joined ISF in 2015 as Regulatory Affairs Manager where he keeps an eye on international policy developments related to plant breeding innovation, varietal certification, and access to new plant varieties, with the aim of achieving consistent, science- and risk-based regulations across different countries. Prior to joining ISF, he worked for the Hungarian Seed Association (HSA) as professional assistant in 2004, and in 2006 he was appointed to the position of Secretary General. Szabi is a Hungarian national. He graduated from Corvinus University in Budapest where he completed a Ph.D. degree in molecular plant breeding.
AbstractIn 2016, the ISF developed criteria for determining the scope of regulatory oversight for products of plant breeding innovation based on the premise that the application of the latest plant breeding methods can result in genetic changes that are indistinguishable from, or similar to, the changes in plants obtained through earlier breeding methods, or can result in changes that can also happen in nature.
Regulatory policies in many countries have been established based on criteria similar to those developed by ISF. These criteria also provide guidance for governments that are still in the process of reviewing their policy approaches for the regulation of innovations in plant breeding.
It is critical that any policies/regulations that have been, or will be, put in place achieve proportionate and science-based regulation and contain an element of flexibility that considers the evolution in scientific knowledge as well as the application of that knowledge. This is often called “future proofing” government policy.
Appropriately flexible, future-proofed regulatory policies will enable advancements in plant breeding so that breeders can successfully integrate these innovations into their breeding programs.
