Thread by @GMWatch

GeneWatch UK—The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill: Briefing for Committee Stage genewatch.org/uploads/f03c6d…

The Bill's exemption from regulation of certain #GMOs is very wide, applying to ALL plants (not just crops), including algae, wild plants & trees, and ALL multiple-celled animals, including pets, farmed and wild animals, some of which are highly mobile (e.g. fish and insects).

Exempt #GMOs (such as forestry trees, pets or wild animals, including insects) will not be required to have ANY environmental risk assessment before open release into the environment, and there is NO provision to stop, destroy or clean-up such releases if anything goes wrong.

The deregulation applies only to exempt #GMOs released in England, including on land and in the sea. However, this would not prevent exempt GMOs — including crops, trees, insects or fish, for example — being released where they could cross into Scotland, Wales or N Ireland.

Living #GMOs that the Bill allows to be released without ANY environmental risk assessment could also travel outside the UK if they are highly mobile or difficult to contain (e.g. insects, fish, pollen, nuts or seeds).

Because validated tests, traceability & labelling aren't required by the Bill (see briefing for caveats), it may not be possible to prevent the spread of exempt #GMOs in the environment & food chain. This has major implications for trade & could lead to food imports being refused

If a gene-edited tomato is released w/out any traceability requirements and w/ no validated test, all countries that require such organisms to be regulated could refuse to import all UK food containing tomatoes, cos food containing the unregulated product wouldn't be identifiable

Major environmental damage could occur if exempt GMOs become eg invasive, or introduce unexpected allergens into the food chain. There are no provisions in the Bill to require destruction of released exempted #GMOs, or to require clean-up of contaminated land, air or watercourses