Choice for consumers is at risk with latest legislation on gene editing and gene modification in plants and animals

Choice for consumers is at risk – call for action to make our voices heard.

On Tuesday 7^th November some 20 people representing the organic food and farming and non-gm food sectors came together under the umbrella of A Bigger Conversation/Beyond GM to discuss the massive risks to our food and to nature through insufficient legislation that will likely remove all safety and tracking of trials and patents for gm/ge/pbo material.

The new legislation on Gene Editing, Gene Modification and precision breeding in plants and animals is only a skeleton. Still, it is one with lots of gaps in it that will let the gene editing industries drive a hole through safety procedures and risk assessments that would otherwise allow tracking, labelling and accountability. The recording of patents of traits and trials is currently in place – these safeguards could be removed!

Surveys of consumers repeatedly show that 70% or more of general consumers want their ability to choose GM or not GM food to be maintained (and most of the others are not sure of the situation – only 6-7% are actually happy to let their choice disappear).

So are we happy to let this industry barge on with uncountable trials that are supposed to be carefully monitored but where the monitoring and accountability systems are removed? The call is to make accountability part of  “Statutory Instrument” legislation relating to this act so that damage to people’s health and the environment can be traced, corrected or stopped.

Precision Breeding Organisms as the new GM terminology is called, is certainly more detailed than some of the older techniques. However, it can still have unregistered and unintended changes in the DNA of the plant, animal or ‘trait’ it is applied to.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Defra are as yet unclear how they will or will not support real tracking, accountability and safety measures, so unless the food and agriculture sectors come together and apply some pressure and consumers (voters) express themselves they are likely to take the path of least resistance.

There will be petitions to come but in the meantime see Beyond GM re PBOs

Gabriel Kaye Exec Director Biodynamic Association

References to the legislation and research are provided in the statement below   ( PDF download here)

2023Nov-Sector Position Genetic Technologies Act NOV23