UK’s Precision Bill Passes Final Reading at the House of Lords

On February 1, 2023, the United Kingdom's Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill passed the third and final reading at the House of Lords with no further amendments. The Bill will be moved to the Commons for consideration of the Lords previous amendments.

The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill is described in Parliament as “a Bill to make provision about the release and marketing of, and risk assessments relating to, precision bred plants and animals, and the marketing of food and feed produced from such plants and animals; and for connected purposes.” It is sponsored by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and was first read in the House of Commons in May 2022.

The final reading at the House of Lords was the last chance for the Lords to change the Bill. It was there that Rt Hon. the Lord Benyon of the Conservative Party signified the King's consent for the Bill. “My Lords, I have it in command from His Majesty the King to acquaint the House that His Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill, has consented to place his interest, so far as it is affected by the Bill, at the disposal of Parliament for the purposes of the Bill,” he said during the opening. After the formal reading and the debate by the members of the House of Lords, no further amendments were proposed. The Bill was passed and sent to the Commons.

At the Commons, the amendments made during previous readings will be considered before the Bill goes to Royal Assent. No date has been set yet for the consideration of Lords amendments.

Visit the UK Parliament website for more details and updates.