In its policy brief the BfN uses concrete examples to show that it is impossible to exclude potential risks of NGT plants just from the size and number of changes of the DNA sequence. Even small changes by genetic engineering can have a high-risk potential for the environment and health. NGT plants can have potential risks comparable to other genetic engineering techniques and can change plants in ways that go beyond conventional breeding. Therefore, the precautionary principle enshrined in primary law of the EU must remain central in the regulation on plants obtained by certain new genetic techniques (NGT). The current legislative proposal does not fulfil this requirement.