Genetically Modified Organisms: Plants
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 27 May 2026 to Questions 2585 and 2586, on what date will a National Listing system recognising precision bred seeds be available.
Answered by Stephen Morgan
On 9 March, this Government published the legislation expected to be in scope of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement currently being negotiated with the EU. This includes legislation relating to plant varieties and seeds.
As negotiations are ongoing, the Government remain committed to the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 and supporting new innovative technologies. The EU have accepted there are a number of areas where we need to retain our own rules, the details of which are subject to negotiations. As such, the implementation of the proposed Precision Bred Plant Variety List for England is also subject to the outcomes of ongoing negotiations.
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