Articles

Citizens’ Charter on Genetic Technologies Upholds Choice and Transparency

From News

A new Citizens’ Charter for Transparency, Accountability and Choice in the Use of Genetic Technologies has been launched, setting out clear principles for how genetic engineering – including gene editing and so-called “precision breeding” – should be governed in the UK.

Gene Editing Can Cause Significant DNA Damage: Here’s Why it Matters for UK Regulation

From Articles

New research shows gene editing can cause lasting disruption to genome function through “chromatin fatigue” – even when DNA appears to have repaired itself – raising serious questions about UK deregulation that assumes precision equals safety.

Editing Nature – Examining the Illusion of Control

From Articles

Genetic engineering cannot be contained in living systems. From bees to crops, engineered genes and microbes inevitably spread, exposing regulatory blind spots and challenging assumptions of control, precaution and accountability in rapidly deregulating governance frameworks. Here’s why we are going to start keeping an eye on engineering in the wild from 2026.

New EU Proposal Supports Hidden GMOs

From News

A sweeping deal to deregulate new GMOs has been proposed in the EU, yet civil society still secured some key concessions – seed labelling, public registers and full regulation for higher-risk plants – missing from UK regulations.

New: Precision Bred GMO Field Trial Tracker

From News

Beyond GM’s PBO Field Trial Tracker aims to bring much-needed transparency to the growing number of open-air field trials of genetically modified and precision-bred crops in England.

IUCN Votes on Gene Editing in Conservation: Biotech Lobbyists ‘Win’, Nature Loses

From Articles

The IUCN’s embrace of genetic engineering as a conservation ‘tool’ marks a profound shift in policy – from protecting nature to engineering it. Critics warn this opens the door to biotech influence, erodes precaution, and turns ecosystems into open labs for experimentation.

68 Pages of “Listening”, Zero Pages of Action – What Defra’s Report on PBO Seeds Reveals

From Articles

Defra’s 68-page report on the Precision Bred Plant Varieties consultation sings the praises of “consensus” and “collaboration” but ignores public demands for action on transparency, traceability and labelling. Has “listening” become the new way of saying “no.”

Turbo Charging Nature? The political myth behind gene-editing ‘speed’ claims

From News

A new report explores how the UK’s rush to deregulate gene editing rests on a myth of speed. Drawing on five case studies, it shows that “fast science” has delivered slow results and obscured deeper questions about progress and accountability.

Making Our Case to the High Court

From News

We have now filed our full legal case and evidence bundle with the High Court – a substantial file running to 778 pages. This evidence brings together scientific, legal and policy arguments that the Government has so far ignored. We now hope the Court will give it the attention it deserves.

Legal Action Challenges UK’s New GMO Regulations

From News

Beyond GM has joined with UK farmers, food businesses and concerned citizens to launch legal challenge new GMO regulations. We’ve written to Defra Secretary of State Steve Reed, signalling our intention to pursue a judicial review of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Regulations 2025.