Key Facts

• Amendment 29 removes precision bred animals from the scope of the Bill.
• Amendment 30 is consequential on amendment 29.
• Amendment 28 amends the long title to remove animals from the bill's scope.
• Labour supports science and innovation but argues for clarity in regulation.
• Concerns raised over the inclusion of animals in the Bill, suggesting it was not a primary focus during initial consultations.
• The impact assessment admits that understanding of provisions' impacts is not fully developed.
• The Government's programme does not clearly outline public acceptance or risks associated with genetic editing products.
• Professor Gideon Henderson testified that scientific input will feed into secondary legislation over two to three years regarding animal welfare.
• Amendments aim to exclude precision bred animals from the definition of 'precision bred organism'.
• Scotland plans to stay aligned with EU regulations on gene editing pending further review.
• The existing provision in UK law related to genetic technology is about 30 years old.
• A statutory instrument enabling regulatory reform came into force in April.
• Projects using precision breeding include developing resistance to bird flu in chickens, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) resistance in pigs, and sea lice resistance in farmed salmon.
• PRRS costs about £1.75 billion across the European Union and the UK annually.
• Philip Davies is proposing amendment 2, clause 1, page 2, line 34.
• The amendment aims to prevent techniques involving exogenous genetic material from being included in future changes to the definition of 'modern biotechnology'.
• He discusses another amendment related to precision breeding and transgenesis.
• The Bill aims to deregulate laws on gene editing or precision bred organisms.
• A distinction exists between gene editing and genetic modification based on the introduction of external material from another species.
• Clause 1(7) of the Bill mentions somatic hybridisation or cell fusion, which may include transgenic exchange.
• Amendment 1 aims to exclude organisms with transgenic material from being classified as precision bred.
• The Bill defines a precision bred organism based on whether genetic changes could occur naturally or through traditional breeding methods.
• Transgenic intermediate stages are necessary for precise genetic modifications but must be removed for classification as precision bred.
• Professor Halford and Professor John Napier's work on camelina crops with high healthy oils.
• The European Court of Justice ruling in 2018 classified organisms produced by gene editing as GMOs.
• Many companies halted research due to current legislation after the EU ruling.
• The Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2022 were recently introduced.
• The European Union has a different term for products of new genetic techniques.
• Approximately 55% of all crop-related food exports from the UK are to the EU.
• The potential risk could decrease £8.56 billion worth of crop-related exports by up to 2.5% and 5.4% of annual value to the EU.
• Amendment 10 would change 'negative' to 'affirmative' in clause 4.
• Philip Davies discusses amendment 32 proposed by Daniel Zeichner regarding restrictions on the release of precision bred organisms in England.
• Amendments 32 and 10 concern the release requirements for precision bred organisms.
• The amendments aim to create a public benefit test and secure proper scrutiny of secondary legislation.
• Evidence was provided by Bill Angus, Professor Giles Oldroyd, and Peter Stevenson.
• Professor David Rose from Cranfield University raised concerns about the Bill's impact on sustainability.
• Sue Pritchard, chief executive of the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission, agreed with Professor Rose's comments.
• Joanna Lewis, policy and strategy director at the Soil Association, expressed concern over the trend towards more intensive farming practices.
• Kerry McCarthy expresses concern over self-regulation of farm animal welfare codes.
• Undercover exposés have revealed poor treatment of animals on farms with higher welfare standards.
• Clause 17 addresses importation of precision bred organisms into England, potentially affecting Scotland.
• The Government has committed over £130 million into joint funding with UK Research and Innovation for food systems research and innovation.
• There is a £270 million investment in farming innovation.
• Over £11 million was invested to support new research on the relationship between food and health.
• Clause 5 sets out restrictions for marketing precision bred organisms in England.
• The Secretary of State has powers to make regulations under Clause 5.
• Regulations are subject to the negative procedure.