Gene editing consultation pushes Government plan to remove vital safeguards Instead of working with people to understand their concerns, Defra is pushing a high-tech, quick-fix agenda

Comment (7 Jan 2021)

Liz O'Neill - liz[at]gmfreeze.org 07811 211 404

Responding to Environment Minister George Eustice’s speech launching a Defra consultation on plans to de-regulate gene editing, GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill said:

People have many concerns about the use of genetic engineering in food and farming so public engagement is vital but it has to be done well. Unfortunately this consultation has started very badly. It’s been launched in the midst of an unprecedented health crisis; it has a clear bias in favour of removing vital safeguards; and the text of the consultation grossly misrepresents the nature of highly experimental new GM techniques.

Instead of working with people to understand their concerns, Defra is pushing the high-tech, quick-fix agenda favoured by industrial farming corporations. GM Freeze will, of course, be submitting evidence and we encourage everyone who wants to know what they are eating to do the same, but the Government should be doing much more to protect our food, our farms and the natural environment.