Britain Finally Relaxes GMO Rules, But Advocates Want More Deregulation

The decision by the U.K. Parliament to relax rules around the planting of some genetically modified crops in Britain is being celebrated this week in an excellent Observer editorial published by sister publication The Guardian. (The papers share an owner.)

“In an overpopulated, overheated world that desperately needs secure food supplies and to limit emissions of carbon dioxide, [anti-GMO] barriers should no longer be allowed to restrict progress,” the editors write. “We urgently need solutions and Britain, one of the world’s leaders in animal and plant research, must be free to play a key role in this agricultural revolution. Blanket bans of genetically altered crops and animals can be countenanced no longer.”

In the works at least since Brexit, Britain warming toward GMOs comes at a key moment, with the island facing record food prices due to inflation, lingering supply-chain issues related to COVID-19, and knock-on effects from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Britain’s deregulatory plans around GMO crops focus on gene editing, a type of genetic modification that “is heavily restricted in the EU.” Indeed, current European Union rules “make gene editing for crops and livestock almost impossible.”

Britain’s embrace of gene editing in agriculture places more post-Brexit distance between it and the E.U. That’s intentional. Indeed, the British government this week couched its GMO plans as part of its overall goal to “deliver on the promise of Brexit.” 

It’s also a good thing. As I explained in a  2019 column, the E.U.’s anti-GMO rules are ridiculously bad. Last year, seeking to begin to shed those rules, the British government announced it would eliminate “existing costs and red tape” to allow field trials of gene-edited crops. The change is part of a plan to “allow far greater use of gene editing in crops in the UK, and a redefinition in law of genetic modification.” Environment Secretary George Eustice said the plan is intended to tackle a host of issues, including “food security, climate change[,] and biodiversity loss.”

More details about the plans were revealed recently in the annual Queen’s Speech. Those plans include “considering the next steps in enabling gene-edited plants and plant products to be brought to market.” The proposals were welcomed by farming and crop-science advocates. Leading British scientists have also hailed the pl