Action Briefing on Agriculture Bill amendment to de-regulate genome editing

1 Jul 2020

 

The Agriculture Bill will be going to Committee Stage in the House of Lords on 7 July 2020. An amendment has been tabled that would give the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs the power to change the definition of a GMO and re-classify many forms of genome editing as non-GM.

GM Freeze, Beyond GM and GMWatch have produced this joint briefing to explain our opposition to the amendment. In it we explain how the amendment would remove vital safeguards on the use of genome editing in our food and on our farms; why this matters; and why it is out of step with both public opinion and the needs of the food and farming industry.