The Soil Association has expressed disappointment in response to today’s announcement by the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) that it will sanction new legislation supporting the introduction of precision breeding.
Precision breeding refers to the use of genetic modification in food production which can be employed to artificially create traits in plants and animals, making them more robust and adaptable to changes in the natural ecosystems.
Soil Association director of policy, Brendan Costelloe, said:
“We are disappointed with Defra’s commitment to push forward with precision bred organisms (PBOs) in spite of public opinion, and the risks this could pose to our ability to trade organic produce.
“It is, therefore, vital to both consumer confidence and the organic sector that the right statutory instruments are now put in place ensure full transparency of PBOs, with clear labelling to reassure and protect consumer choice, secure the organic and GMO Free sector and protect trade.
“We are absolutely determined to work with Defra to deliver these reassurances. This is critical for the entire organic food sector to maintain the legal standards required and to ensure that the thousands of organic businesses in the UK can trade with Europe and with other countries who have exclusions on Genetically Modified Organisms including PBOs.
“We must avoid any barriers to consumer choice and trade at all costs – the organic food sector is worth over £3.2 billion,” Costelloe continued.
The Soil Association has been consistent in its calls for the following statutory instruments in relation to precision breeding:
- Robust notification and registration system for gene-edited products to ensure that only those that meet the criteria predefined in the Precision Bred (Genetic Technologies) Act, are declared as PBOs;
- Mandatory requirements for the identification and traceability of PBO’s in a supply chain to enable them to be excluded where specific supply chains, like organic, require it;
- Appropriate risk assessments (including to the environment, biodiversity and animal welfare) of the genetic changes occurring before they can be released or sold as food or feed;
- Accurate product labelling verifying the inclusion or lack there of gene edited ( ingredients to enable greater transparency for consumers.
“Defra’s own public consultation showed that 85% of the public had genuine misgivings about gene-editing and its long-term unforeseen implications.
“The also wanted to see clear labelling of any foods containing GE ingredients as well as a robust system of tracing and licensing of producers using GE ingredients,” Costelloe added.
