In May, the United Kingdom introduced a bill that would allow the commercial cultivation and sale of gene-edited crops, which are functionally banned under European Union regulations that still apply to the country. If it passes, the bill will increase the number of tools British farmers have to grow more resilient—and nutritious—food.
Since Brexit in January 2020, the British government has sought to move away from restrictive EU rules on gene-edited crops, or crops that are created by making precise changes to a plant’s DNA.
A truly product-based regulatory system would regulate gene-edited and genetically engineered plants based solely on the characteristics of the final product and how much those affect certain environmental and health risks. For example, a crop that produces its own pesticides might be evaluated in terms of how greatly it could contribute to the evolution of pesticide-resistant insects. All plants that do not have traits that pose a plausible risk would be exempt from pre-market regulation but still undergo post-market safety regulations that apply to all foods.
If the U.K. sets this precedent and successfully implements new regulations, other countries will follow. The potential benefits are vast: Faster product approval means more research and development of the biotechnology industry and thus more efficient and more plentiful food production around the world.
