Milestone gene-editing legislation comes into force in England

Fresh produce growers in England are hoping that the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023, which came into force on 13 November, will offer them new varieties with higher yields, climate change resilience, and greater disease resistance.

Following a six-month implementation period, the act makes England the first country in Europe to legalise the development of gene-edited and other precision-bred plants.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture (APPGSTA) welcomed the move, describing it as a landmark moment for British science. It called for the new legislation to “mark the beginning of a new pro-innovation agricultural policy agenda for the UK”.

The cross-party group – which brings together MPs, peers and stakeholders from the food, farming and research communities – has long championed the need for what it sees as “more proportionate, evidence-based regulation” of new breeding technologies.

However, there have also been vocal critics of the bill, not least in the organic sector. The Soil Association has previously expressed its disappointment with Defra’s commitment to pushing ahead with the legislation “despite public opinion and the risks this could pose to our ability to trade organic produce”.

When it was announced in September 2024 that Defra would introduce the new legislation, Soil Association director of policy Brendan Costelloe stressed that it is “vital to both consumer confidence and the organic sector that the right statutory instruments are now put in place ensure full transparency of PBOs with clear labelling to reassure and protect consumer choice, secure the organic and GMO-free sector, and protect trade”.

On the other side of the debate, APPGSTA first paved the way for post-Brexit regulatory reform on precision breeding by tabling an amendment to the Agriculture Act 2020, securing a ministerial commitment to bring forward new legislation.

APPGSTA chair George Freeman MP said: “Implementation of the Precision Breeding Act marks an important step in ensuring that farmers, consumers and the environment can benefit from advances in gene editing and other precision breeding techniques.

“From today we expect applications to come forward, which will offer the potential to increase yields, reduce chemical inputs, enhance disease resistance, cut food waste, and improve nutritional quality across a range of different crops.”

Freeman said the new legislation puts England ahead of the rest of Europe, and aligns the UK’s rules with countries such as Australia, Japan, Canada, Brazil, Argentina and the US.

He added: “By pioneering a world-class, science-based framework, the UK is better placed to help improve prospects for global food security, reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from agriculture, and promote more sustainable farming systems across rapidly developing economies in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

“Britain’s scientists and plant breeders now have the chance to help farmers here and overseas produce more from less.”

Freeman also argued that implementing the Precision Breeding Act supports core elements of the government’s food, industrial and trade and investment strategies.

“Improved access to precision breeding technologies such as gene editing opens up new opportunities for economic growth and global leadership,” he said.

“These innovations can help improve the resilience of our domestic food supply, create new high-value export markets, attract inward investment, and support Britain’s ambition to be a leader in green growth.”

APPGSTA said the indications are that many early applications will come from public sector researchers and SMEs, reflecting one of the legislation’s key aims – to democratise access to new genetic technologies.

Similar approaches in countries such as Argentina have encouraged smaller developers and public institutions to lead on gene-editing innovation, broadening the range of crops and traits under development.

However, APPGSTA cautioned that these hard-won gains must not be compromised in the context of forthcoming UK–EU realignment discussions and any future cross-border Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement.

“To secure future innovation and investment, the government must protect the independence of our science-based regulatory framework,” said Freeman. “The UK must retain the freedom to pursue policies that promote food security, sustainability and innovation in our own agri-food system.”