Beyond GM, an organisation supported by many organic and regenerative food businesses, has sent a pre-action letter to the Defra Secretary prepared by the legal team at Leigh Day and Matrix Chambers.
The NGO says that the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Regulations 2025, which were signed into law on 13 May 2025, fundamentally change how genetically modified organisms are regulated in England, removing essential safeguards that have protected consumers, farmers and the environment for decades.
Beyond GM has long worked to ensure robust regulation, traceability and labelling for genetically modified ‘precision bred’ organisms (PBOs). They say that polls show 8 in 10 people in the UK want to see these ‘precision bred’ GMOs labelled, but this is not what is happening.
Pat Thomas, Director of Beyond GM, said, “We are not seeking to ‘ban’ GMOs – indeed, GMOs have never been ‘banned’ in the UK. We are seeking to ensure full transparency from field to fork.
“The new Regulations have significant implications for food sovereignty, environmental protection, consumer choice and democratic accountability in the UK.”
Beyond GM says that there are:
- No labelling requirements for precision-bred GMOs in food
- No traceability systems to track these organisms through the supply chain
- Direct threats to organic farming and food businesses
- Risks to UK-EU trade relationships
- Risks associated with self-certification by developers and no post-release monitoring for environmental releases of precision bred GMOs
There is also concern that while the Regulations apply only to England, the UK’s Internal Market Act is likely to result in food produced using genetically modified PBOs becoming available in other UK nations.
Thomas said, “For organic farmers and businesses, it creates acute legal conflicts because PBOs are still legally considered GMOs for the purposes of organic certification. For agroecological, regenerative, artisanal and traditional farms and food businesses that wish to remain GMO-free it means traceability will be nearly impossible.”
The pre-action letter is supported by Doves Farm, Daylesford Organic, Planet Organic, Abbey Home Farm, Holden Farm Dairy, Hodmedod’s and journalist and author Joanna Blythman.