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Written question asked by Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party) on Friday, 24 March 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 28 March 2023. It was answered by Mark Spencer (Conservative) on Tuesday, 28 March 2023 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.


Plants: Genetically Modified Organisms

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department are taking to support research on gene edited plants; and what assessment she has made of the potential merits of requiring researchers to have a license before conducting gene editing on animals.

Answer

The Government has passed into law The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act that unlocks growth and innovation in the bioscience sector. Precision breeding technology such as gene editing, taking place in the UK’s leading research institutes has the potential to tackle some of the major challenges of our time.

Relevant licences under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 continue to be required for any scientific research involving gene-editing in animals.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
173072
Session
2022-23
Subjects
Animals Licensing Genetically modified organisms Plants Research
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk