United Kingdom
13 May, 2025
The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Regulations 2025 were signed into law this week by Minister of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Daniel Zeichner MP.
Full implementation of the regulations is expected in the autumn of 2025. These regulations, which were laid before parliament in February as secondary legislation, aim to fully operationalize the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act, which was passed in March 2023.
The 2023 Act and new enabling Regulations are designed to facilitate the use of precision breeding technologies in agriculture, offering a more streamlined regulatory process for gene-edited crops in England.
UK consumers could see gene-edited (GE) products on supermarket shelves by late 2026.
The Government is backing precision breeding technology due to its potential to increase food production, reduce costs for farmers, and enable the cultivation of drought and disease-resistant crops. The technology offers the possibility of developing crops that are more nutritious, pest and disease-resistant, climate-resilient, and environmentally beneficial.
Rothamsted has pioneered the translation of gene-edited crops, carrying out the UK’s first field trials for GE wheat and camelina, and leads the way in demonstrating the power of this new technology to advance plant breeding.
This means that the precision bred crops that we are developing, like our enhanced camelina, now have a real chance to become commercial products.
The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Regulations 2025 were also debated in the House of Lords on May 6, 2025. The debate focused on the regulations' impact on food security, British farming, and the environment. A “Motion of Regret” was withdrawn after a significant majority of expert Peers spoke in favour of the secondary legislation.
Secondary legislation necessary to operationalize the Act has been drafted by the Defra and the Food Standards Agency (FSA). These statutory instruments were notified to the World Trade Organisation in April 2024 and secured parliamentary debate and approval in March 2025.
While the Act covers both plants and animals, current implementation focuses on plants. The government has deferred the application of precision breeding to animals, citing the need for further evidence and stakeholder engagement to ensure animal welfare is safeguarded.
Professor Johnathan Napier, Flagship Research Leader and part of Rothamsted's Green Engineering ISPG said “It is really positive and exciting to see these enabling regulations now set to be in place by the end of 2025. This means that the precision bred crops that we are developing, like our enhanced camelina, now have a real chance to become commercial products. For 30 years, regulation of new technologies such has gene editing has always increased the burden on the developer, so this situation, with reduced red-tape to make things easier, is a sea-change and should be celebrated.”
Dr Peter Eastmond, who has developed a gene edited barley variety with a high lipid content that could help reduce GHG emissions from cattle, said, “This step is hugely significant as it will finally allow innovative precision breeding tools to benefit consumers, growers and the environment.”
Professor Nigel Halford, who leads research at Rothamsted on GE wheat said, "It does feel like an historic moment to me, and I expect everyone who has been working on plant biotech while the UK/EU has been marginalised will feel the same. It is tremendously exciting and I applaud everyone who has worked hard to get the legislation over the line. There are still issues with the devolved governments sitting on their hands and the EU playing catch-up, but for now we should celebrate. Most importantly it is a win for science and common sense."
Sir Peter Kendall, chair of the Rothamsted Board and former president of the National Farmers Union said, “It is vital to enable the farming industry to meet the challenges of the future. Producing more, and at the same time enhancing our natural environment, will require all the tools at our disposal. This is an important step forward.”
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