George Eustice, the UK’s environment secretary, will announce plans to consult on gene editing at the Oxford Farming Conference today (7 January).

The consultation is set to focus on stopping gene-edited organisms, which could have been produced naturally or through traditional breeding techniques, from being regulated in the same way as genetically modified organisms. At present, the proposed change is for English law only.

A statement from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) noted that “gene-editing creates potential to protect the nation’s environment, pollinators and wildlife”.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ), with much controversy, declared that gene editing should be regulated in the same way as genetic modification in 2018. However, the European Commission has announced a review of the decision is being undertaken this year.

Now that we have left the EU, we are free to make coherent policy decisions based on science and evidence

Eustice has opened a 10-week consultation period from today and at the conference will outline that gene-editing can breed better performing crops, reduce costs of production, reduce impacts on the environment and help to adapt to climate change challenges.

He describes the ECJ ruling as “flawed” and “stifling to scientific progress”.

“Now that we have left the EU, we are free to make coherent policy decisions based on science and evidence. That begins with this consultation,” according to the environment secretary.

We will continue to put the consumer first

The chief scientific adviser for the Food Standard’s Agency, Robin May, welcomed the consultation stating: “The UK prides itself in having the very highest standards of food safety, and there are strict controls on GM crops, seeds and food which the FSA will continue to apply moving forward.”

He continued: “We will continue to put the consumer first and be transparent and open in our decision-making. Any possible change would be based on an appropriate risk assessment that looks at the best available science.”

The consultation will also gather evidence on updating the current approach to genetic modification.

Inevitable that the decision would be reconsidered?

Gene-editing has the potential to reduce inputs used on farms through its fast and targeted method of breeding and can provide alternative methods of control of some pests where chemicals have lost efficacy or been removed from the market.

It was almost inevitable that the UK would reconsider and consult on this decision on leaving the EU in order to make the playing field more level when competing on the world market.

Northern Ireland

It should be noted that farmers in Northern Ireland are unlikely to be affected by any change in regulations as they are still part of the single market.

What’s next?

The consultation is one of the first signs of the UK moving away from some of the European legislation in agriculture after Brexit and Irish farmers will no doubt be wondering what will be next on the list from chemical to fertiliser usage.