News

Help us raise awareness of the UK’s GMO deregulation agenda

2nd June 2022

The government promised a “step-by-step” approach to deregulating gene editing. What it has delivered is a broad remit for deregulating most kinds of GMOs used in agriculture. See here for how you can help us push back.

FOI documents show Defra wilfully ignores public views on gene editing

25th May 2022

Freedom of information documents obtained by Beyond GM show the breathtaking lengths the UK government has gone to in order to ignore public views on the regulation of gene editing.

A ‘Precision Breeding’ Bill to fast-track GMO deregulation in England

10th May 2022

Today’s Queen’s Speech detailed careless government plans to extend the deregulation of GMOs to commercial food and feed products.

UK removes ‘barriers’ from GMO field trials

15th March 2022

The UK government has voted through a new law that will remove restrictions from GMO field trials in England. Far from being a limited change, it opens up the possibility of a rapid expansion of open air trials of GMO plants of all kinds.

House of Lords Committee says GMO amendment ‘lacks clarity and detail’ – Beyond GM responds

16th February 2022

In response to civil society criticisms, including those formally raised by Beyond GM, the House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee has raised several concerns in relation to a proposed change in law that would allow open field trials of experimental GMO crops in any field in England.

New legislative changes for GMO field trials – Beyond GM responds

20th January 2022

The UK government has announced that is changing the law on field trials for gene edited crops – today. Here is our response.

Deregulating GMOs in the UK – New analysis shows government follows ideology not evidence

19th January 2022

A new analysis by A Bigger Conversation suggests that, in its haste to deregulate agricultural gene technologies, the UK government is “choosing to get it wrong” by ignoring expertise from all sides.

TAKE ACTION – Make sure your MP understands the evidence on gene editing

1st November 2021

It’s Evidence Week in Westminster. We don’t trust the organisers to ensure the evidence around gene editing is represented fairly. Use our alternative online platform to send key questions that your MP should be able to answer.

Regulation is not a ‘burden’ – Beyond GM responds UK government plans for a deregulatory bonfire

3rd October 2021

Our response to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) consultation on widespread regulatory reform in the UK, emphasises the importance of regulation and precaution, the complex regulatory requirements of so-called ‘disruptive’ technologies like gene editing and the urgent need for more citizen input.

Defra takes first steps toward deregulating gene editing in the UK – Beyond GM responds

29th September 2021

The UK government says it will “unlock the power of gene editing” through a series of measures designed to make research, development and routes to market faster and more streamlined. But behind the hype many questions remain.