As England embraces gene-edited agriculture, Scotland, Wales and Northern Island stick with Europe’s anti-genetic engineering regulations

The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill has gained Royal Assent after its passage through Parliament and a three-month public consultation in 2021.

This means gene-edited food can now be developed commercially in England – but Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments have not permitted the change.

Gene editing in England had been covered under the same tight regulation that restricted the commercial development of GM crops under EU law. Brexit enabled the Westminster government to relax its rules for the new technology.

The chief scientific advisor for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Prof Gideon Henderson, said that the new rules would lead to better food production and bring jobs and investment to England.

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The Scottish government has a long-standing opposition to GM and wishes to stay in step with the EU, where its use is currently undergoing review.

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