UK government seeks gene-edited crops exemption in EU deal

The UK government has pledged to keep gene-edited crops out of its new EU alignment deal, paving the way for the Precision Breeding Act to proceed as planned.

Defra secretary Steve Reed confirmed the government’s commitment to advancing precision breeding technologies.

“We are somewhat ahead of the European Union.

“We continue with the legislation… the door remains open to an agreement around that,” Mr Reed told MPs at an Environmental Food and Rural Affairs meeting this week.

See also: MPs urge protection of gene editing gains in EU talks

A UK government spokesperson added: “The EU has accepted there will need to be a number of areas where we need to retain our own rules… but we’ve been clear about the importance of continuing to develop innovative technologies for farmers.”

Legislation passed

The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act, which gained Royal Assent in 2023, allows the commercial cultivation of gene-edited crops in England only.

Its secondary legislation was approved by the House of Lords on 6 May, and the new regulations were signed into law on 13 May.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture (APPGSTA) welcomed the government’s commitment to moving forward with the act.

Chairman George Freeman MP said: “We look forward to receiving early confirmation and details of the exemption for the Precision Breeding Act to provide clarity and certainty for researchers and potential investors.”

Farmers and industry leaders have also expressed support for the government’s stance.

The NFU, which campaigned hard for the bill’s introduction, said it should be a top priority in the UK-EU dynamic alignment deal.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw said: “It’s vital that our government safeguards the progress we have made in precision breeding to enable sustainable, resilient food production.”

Tom Allen-Stevens heads up the Probity (A Platform to Rate Organisms Bred for Improved Traits and Yield) project, a new farmer-led initiative trialling gene-edited crops, for the British On-Farm Innovation Network.

He said: “We’re excited by the prospect of planting the first pre-commercial precision-bred cereals on English farms in spring 2026, pending PBO approval under the new regulations, and look forward to seeing these new varieties deliver real advantages for productivity and sustainability.”

While the UK moves forward with gene editing, the EU is reviewing its own stance.

Unlike traditional genetic modification, gene editing makes precise changes to an organism’s DNA without adding foreign genes.

‘Blueprint for EU’

UK experts hope the British approach could serve as a blueprint for EU policy.

Prof Nick Talbot of The Sainsbury Laboratory, in Norwich, said: “Our negotiations should be about encouraging the EU to approve innovation.”

However, opponents caution that the EU’s regulatory power over trade could force English farmers and food businesses to comply with EU rules if they want to export gene-edited crops to the bloc.

Pat Thomas, director of Beyond GM, warned: “The EU will continue to require labelling, transparency, and higher environmental risk assessments to protect consumer choice and organic agriculture.”