Animal Welfare Standards

Dear constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill and animal welfare concerns.

Animal welfare organisations are right to raise these powerful concerns. I want to see much stronger tests on animal welfare impacts.

Currently, the legislation introduces animal welfare declarations and an animal welfare body to consider applications to produce gene-edited organisms. It does not specify which impacts on animals would be grounds for an application being denied, nor does it lay out what evidence the advisory body will consider regarding animal welfare.

There is an opportunity for the UK to create a world-leading regulatory framework but, while I believe this legislation is a start, the Bill is rushed and too thin on detail, with too much being left to secondary legislation we have not yet seen. With that lack of detail comes a risk as the public needs assurance that these new technologies are being used for the public good and not only for a narrow commercial advantage.

We must have a regulatory system to ensure these technologies are used for the right purposes. For example, I would not want to see gene editing that modifies animals to allow them to tolerate more cramped conditions.

More widely, I am pro-science and pro-innovation, and I want to find ways to maintain and improve the efficiency, safety and security of our food system while addressing the environmental and health damage caused by the modern food system. I understand that laws designed almost 30 years ago for genetically modified products do not reflect advances in understanding and technology. However, we must ensure the distinction between gene editing and gene modification is drafted clearly and transparently.

In my view, there must be assurance that allowing the editing of genes in one organism does not also allow introduction of genes from another organism. I am concerned the legislation is not entirely clear on this subject. I would also like to see clear labelling of products created with gene editing.

I believe gene editing could bring gains in environmental sustainability and food security. However, it must come with a strong regulatory framework. I will support the Opposition’s efforts to improve the legislation to create this.

Thank you once again for contacting me.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Dowd MP