Precision Breeding Act Passes Law

The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act passed law on 23rd March. The act covers precision-bred plants and animals developed through techniques such as gene editing, and unlocks key technologies to improve UK food security, reduce pesticide use, and enhance climate-resilience in our crops. Under the provisions of this Act, a new science-based and streamlined regulatory system will be introduced to facilitate greater research and innovation in precision breeding. See here for the bill and here for DEFRA's press release. The precision breeding summary for BRC members will be updated in due course with more details on the FSA's risk assessment and legislation plans.