Time is running out to respond to the Food Standards Agency 'precision breeding' consultation

The deadline for anyone concerned about the impact of genetic modified organisms in the UK food and farming system to respond to the Food Standards Agency consultation is 5pm on Monday 8 January.

The Food Standards Agency is currently consulting on secondary legislation following the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act, which was passed in March 2023. This will influence how GMOs will be produced and sold in the UK – whether, for example, gene-edited products are clearly labelled, or subject to a thorough risk assessment.

The organic sector have particular concerns as organic standards specifically prohibit the use of GMOs in organic farming and foods, and this includes 'Precision Bred Organisms'.

Key players are working together to encourage consumers, farmers, businesses and organisations to express their concerns about the application of the Genetic Technology Act by responding to the consultation.

Soil Association head of standards Chris Atkinson said: "We only have a small window to make our voices heard on these key issues. The Food Standards Agency failed to reassure consumers and campaigners that they can meet their obligations to protect consumer safety in September 2023 when their board provisionally approved next steps for the Act and the regulation of gene-edited foods and feed products.

"We have deep concerns about the approach they are proposing to the identification, labelling and traceability requirements, they will simply not be able to protect public safety or guard against food fraud.

"We strongly urge everyone concerned about GMOs in the UK food supply chain to have their say and respond to the consultation."

The Soil Association, GM Freeze, Organic Farmers & Growers, Beyond GM and the BDA Certification have also produced this online guide and information to help everyone navigate the online response form. They have criticised the consultation as not 'sufficiently impartial or accessible'. Stating that it is written in a way that makes it difficult to understand the detail of what is being proposed.

Research* by the Soil Association in August 2023 found that 70% of the public said they would expect genetically engineered foods to be clearly labelled and 64% said they would expect that trials of genetically engineered crops here in the UK would be thoroughly checked by Defra officials and signed off before going live. The government's own consultation on gene-editing - 'The regulation of genetic technologies' – March 2021 – found that 85% of respondents indicated no support for deregulation.

* The Soil Association survey was conducted by Findoutnow who interviewed 3,600 GB adults on the 2^nd August 2023 and produced a sample of 2,017 respondents which is nationally representative by: Gender, Age, Social Class, Region, Brexit Vote, and 2019 General Election vote.