The UK Government’s Genetic Technology Bill threatens “seismic consequences” for the whole of the food industry, says Roger Kerr, chief executive of Organic Farmers & Growers, in a letter issued to media today.

Kerr writes:

“As the Genetic Technology Bill races unhindered through parliament, the potentially seismic consequences to the UK food industry from this contentious policy are simply being ignored.

This deeply troubling bill removes any labelling and traceability requirements for a hypothetical sub-class of GMO, the so-called ‘precision bred organism’ (PBO). These exempted organisms will effectively be hidden in the food system.

The Regulatory Policy Committee has already raised a red flag, stating that the bill fails to consider the impact of creating a new class of GMO. Let’s be absolutely clear-eyed that in its present form this bill will fail businesses; it will fail consumers; and it will fail the environment.