Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for regulating the use of new technology in the development of non-genetically modified organism products.

The Government believes in a science-based approach to regulating genetically modified organisms and newer precision breeding technologies such as gene-editing (GE). We are supportive of the benefits that GM and new precision breeding technologies could bring to business and consumers, and in supporting economic growth.

The current EU rules capture GE organisms within the regulatory framework for GMO legislation. The Government’s assessment is that if a GE organism could have been produced naturally or through traditional breeding methods then it should not be captured by GMO legislation.

The Government intends to consult the public this autumn on whether changes to primary legislation may be required for the regulation of precision breeding technologies to become more science-based and not subject to unnecessary regulatory burdens.

If GE organisms become classed as non-GMOs then other regulatory frameworks may apply depending on the intended use of the product.