1-20 of 5,243 results for subject:"Genetically modified organisms"
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To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 1 July (HL Deb col 1066), whether they have asked for an exception carve-out for precision breeding and gene editing in the UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement negotiations.
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 1 July (HL Deb col 1066), whether they have asked for an exception carve-out for precision breeding and gene editing in the UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement negotiations.
We remain committed to implementing the Precision Breeding Act and enabling the safe development of innovative genetic technologies.
Under the UK‑EU Common Understanding, it is recognised that there will be areas where the UK will retain its own rules. The detail of those is subject to ongoing negotiations, and it would not be appropriate to comment further.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the legislative proposals in California (Assembly Bill 1864) and New York (Assembly Bill 3283) to mandate synthetic nucleic acid synthesis screening; and what plans they have to make the UK's current voluntary screening guidance mandatory.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the legislative proposals in California (Assembly Bill 1864) and New York (Assembly Bill 3283) to mandate synthetic nucleic acid synthesis screening; and what plans they have to make the UK's current voluntary screening guidance mandatory.
The Government continues to evaluate the UK’s approach to synthetic nucleic acid screening on an ongoing basis. This is informed by consideration of international developments, including Assembly Bill 1864 in California and Assembly Bill 3283 in New York, as well as other international partners approaches to screening. In October 2024, the UK was the second country in the world to publish Guidance to promote the screening of synthetic nucleic acid customers and sequences. The Guidance delivers on the UK’s commitment to ensure responsible innovation in engineering biology by championing legitimate use and mitigating the risk of misuse of synthetic nucleic acids.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of aligning the UK's regulatory framework for precision breeding technologies with that of the EU on investment decisions in the UK agri-food sector.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of aligning the UK's regulatory framework for precision breeding technologies with that of the EU on investment decisions in the UK agri-food sector.
This Government introduced the Precision Breeding Regulations to encourage development of drought and disease-resistant crops thereby boosting productivity for British farmers, and Defra remain committed to implementing the Precision Breeding Act. These Regulations are subject to ongoing negotiations between the UK and the EU as part of the SPS agreement. The EU have accepted there will need to be some areas where we retain our own rules.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has had discussions with her European counterparts on the UK's regulatory framework for precision breeding technologies in support of growth and investment in the agri-food sector.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has had discussions with her European counterparts on the UK's regulatory framework for precision breeding technologies in support of growth and investment in the agri-food sector.
This Government introduced the Precision Breeding Regulations to encourage development of drought and disease-resistant crops thereby boosting productivity for British farmers, and Defra remain committed to implementing the Precision Breeding Act. These Regulations are subject to ongoing negotiations between the UK and the EU as part of the SPS agreement. The EU have accepted there will need to be some areas where we retain our own rules.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has plans to maintain the UK's independent regulatory framework for precision bred organisms.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has plans to maintain the UK's independent regulatory framework for precision bred organisms.
This Government introduced the Precision Breeding Regulations to encourage development of drought and disease-resistant crops thereby boosting productivity for British farmers, and Defra remain committed to implementing the Precision Breeding Act. These Regulations are subject to ongoing negotiations between the UK and the EU as part of the SPS agreement. The EU have accepted there will need to be some areas where we retain our own rules.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's policies of the High Court's ruling on the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Regulations 2025.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's policies of the High Court's ruling on the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Regulations 2025.
Defra cannot comment regarding an ongoing legal case.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government plans to introduce mandatory labelling of precision-bred (gene-edited) foods.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government plans to introduce mandatory labelling of precision-bred (gene-edited) foods.
Defra cannot comment regarding an ongoing legal case.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure full traceability of precision-bred organisms across the food and farming supply chain.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure full traceability of precision-bred organisms across the food and farming supply chain.
Defra cannot comment regarding an ongoing legal case.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 27 May 2026 to Questions 2585 and 2586, on what date will a National Listing system recognising precision bred seeds be available.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 27 May 2026 to Questions 2585 and 2586, on what date will a National Listing system recognising precision bred seeds be available.
On 9 March, this Government published the legislation expected to be in scope of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement currently being negotiated with the EU. This includes legislation relating to plant varieties and seeds.
As negotiations are ongoing, the Government remain committed to the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 and supporting new innovative technologies. The EU have accepted there are a number of areas where we need to retain our own rules, the details of which are subject to negotiations. As such, the implementation of the proposed Precision Bred Plant Variety List for England is also subject to the outcomes of ongoing negotiations.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Department has to implement a National Listing system to recognise precision bred seeds.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Department has to implement a National Listing system to recognise precision bred seeds.
A consultation was held from 14 February to 17 April 2025 seeking feedback on a proposed plant varieties and seed framework for precision bred plant varieties. The proposal included a Precision Bred Plant Varieties List for England. The main agricultural and vegetable plant varieties require evaluating and registering on a variety list before seed and other plant reproductive material can be marketed to ensure that they are new and improved. A new list in England is required for precision bred plant varieties in addition to the existing GB and Northern Ireland variety lists.
This Government is negotiating a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement with the EU to make agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier, cutting costs and red tape for British producers and retailers. The agreement will cover SPS standards and controls, including plant varieties and seeds. The EU have accepted there are several areas where GB will retain its own rules. The details of these are subject to negotiations, but we have been clear about the importance of being able to support the use of new innovative technologies.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Department will set out a date by which the sale of precision bred seeds will be made legal.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Department will set out a date by which the sale of precision bred seeds will be made legal.
A consultation was held from 14 February to 17 April 2025 seeking feedback on a proposed plant varieties and seed framework for precision bred plant varieties. The proposal included a Precision Bred Plant Varieties List for England. The main agricultural and vegetable plant varieties require evaluating and registering on a variety list before seed and other plant reproductive material can be marketed to ensure that they are new and improved. A new list in England is required for precision bred plant varieties in addition to the existing GB and Northern Ireland variety lists.
This Government is negotiating a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement with the EU to make agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier, cutting costs and red tape for British producers and retailers. The agreement will cover SPS standards and controls, including plant varieties and seeds. The EU have accepted there are several areas where GB will retain its own rules. The details of these are subject to negotiations, but we have been clear about the importance of being able to support the use of new innovative technologies.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to secure assurances from the European Union on a permanent carve-out for products authorised under the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 in any new Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to secure assurances from the European Union on a permanent carve-out for products authorised under the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 in any new Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
The Government remains committed to implementing the Precision Breeding Act and enabling the safe development of innovative genetic technologies.
Under the UK‑EU Common Understanding, it is recognised that there will be areas where the UK will retain its own rules. The detail of those is subject to ongoing negotiations, and it would not be appropriate to comment further.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether a carve-out for precision bred organisms from dynamic alignment under the proposed UK-EU SPS agreement has been agreed with the EU.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether a carve-out for precision bred organisms from dynamic alignment under the proposed UK-EU SPS agreement has been agreed with the EU.
The Government remains committed to implementing the Precision Breeding Act and enabling the safe development of innovative genetic technologies.
Under the UK‑EU Common Understanding, it is recognised that there will be areas where the UK will retain its own rules. The detail of those is subject to ongoing negotiations, and it would not be appropriate to comment further.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the proposed dynamic alignment with the EU will prevent the adoption of gene-edited crops under the provisions of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the proposed dynamic alignment with the EU will prevent the adoption of gene-edited crops under the provisions of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023.
Defra remains committed to implementing the Precision Breeding Act and enabling the safe development of innovative genetic technologies
Under the UK-EU Common Understanding, it is recognised that there will be areas where the UK will retain its own rules. The detail of those areas is now part of ongoing negotiations. Throughout this process, Defra has been clear on the importance of maintaining the UK’s ability to regulate precision breeding in a way that supports innovation, gives farmers access to new tools, and upholds high standards of safety.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that the implementation of a common UK–EU SPS agreement is compatible with the operation of the Precision Breeding Act.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that the implementation of a common UK–EU SPS agreement is compatible with the operation of the Precision Breeding Act.
Defra remains committed to implementing the Precision Breeding Act and enabling the safe development of innovative genetic technologies.
Under the UK-EU Common Understanding, it is recognised that there will be areas where the UK will retain its own rules. The detail of those areas is now part of ongoing negotiations. Throughout this process, the Government has been clear on the importance of maintaining the UK’s ability to regulate precision breeding in a way that supports innovation, gives farmers access to new tools, and upholds high standards of safety.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that future SPS alignment with the EU does not reintroduce regulatory barriers for precision-bred crops already permitted under the Precision Breeding Act 2025.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that future SPS alignment with the EU does not reintroduce regulatory barriers for precision-bred crops already permitted under the Precision Breeding Act 2025.
Defra remains committed to implementing the Precision Breeding Act and enabling the safe development of innovative genetic technologies.
Under the UK-EU Common Understanding, it is recognised that there will be areas where the UK will retain its own rules. The detail of those areas is now part of ongoing negotiations. Throughout this process, Defra has been clear on the importance of maintaining the UK’s ability to regulate precision breeding in a way that supports innovation, gives farmers access to new tools, and upholds high standards of safety.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to protect gene editing provisions in ongoing trade negotiations with the European Union.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to protect gene editing provisions in ongoing trade negotiations with the European Union.
Under the UK-EU Common Understanding, it is recognised that there will be areas where the UK will retain its own rules. The scope and detail of those areas are now part of ongoing negotiations. Throughout this process, we have been clear on the importance of maintaining the UK’s ability to regulate precision breeding in a way that supports innovation, gives farmers access to new tools, and upholds high standards of safety.
We continue to engage closely with stakeholders and devolved administrations to ensure that our approach reflects the best available scientific advice and maintains the UK’s position as a world leader in Agri-tech.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures are being taken to ensure that the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act supports research and field trials involving the genetic editing of sugar beet to improve resistance to Virus Yellows disease.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures are being taken to ensure that the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act supports research and field trials involving the genetic editing of sugar beet to improve resistance to Virus Yellows disease.
The secondary legislation needed to implement The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 for plants in England commenced on 13 November 2025. This marks a major milestone, enabling research trials to take place and providing a route to market for precision bred products.
Through Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme (FIP), we are funding innovative research projects and earlier this year, the Department announced a £12.5 million competition focused specifically on precision breeding. Previous projects funded under FIP includes a research project by Tropic, British Sugar and the John Innes Centre to develop sugar beets through precision breeding that are resistant against Virus Yellows.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help ensure that the Devolved administrations can prevent unlabelled precision-bred seeds and plant reproductive materials marketed in England from entering their supply chains.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help ensure that the Devolved administrations can prevent unlabelled precision-bred seeds and plant reproductive materials marketed in England from entering their supply chains.
Defra is working with the organic sector to prepare for the medium and longer term by discussing non-legislative options for supply chain coexistence. This includes facilitating discussions between experts to establish which measures, currently used by the industry, could be used by farmers to enable coexistence between precision bred and non-precision bred crop production. This is in line with approaches taken internationally.
To implement the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023, a new Precision Bred Plant Variety List for England is proposed. Any precision bred agricultural or vegetable plant varieties need to be accepted onto the new variety list before being marketed. Users, including those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, will be able to access information about precision bred plant varieties in the Plant Varieties and Seeds Gazette.
Defra are continuing to engage regularly with the Devolved Governments to discuss potential impacts.