In a legal challenge brought by advocacy group Beyond GM, the High Court has ruled that the Government failed to understand the significant consequences of removing transparency and labelling for gene-edited crops and foods.
The judgment found that government advisors gave the Farming Minister incorrect advice about his own legal powers. This led to a failure to investigate the real consequences of removing safeguards on gene-edited organisms. Passing the regulations on this basis was found to be unlawful.
The judgment highlights that the lack of mandatory labelling and traceability requirements imposes substantial burdens on both organic and non-organic supply chains. This increases the difficulty and cost for farmers, businesses, and consumers who seek to avoid genetically modified crops, as well as for exporters of agricultural goods to the EU.
The current regulatory framework will now need to be reconsidered.
David Wolfe and James Robottom acted for Beyond GM, alongside Julianne Kerr Morrison of Monckton Chambers. The counsel team was instructed by Julia Eriksen, Rowan Smith, and Madeeha Akhtar at Leigh Day.
Click here for the full judgment.