Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023

• “the affirmative procedure” has the meaning given by section 43(4);

• “animal” has the meaning given by section section 2(2);

• “compliance notice” has the meaning given by section 33(1);

• “control” is to be read in accordance with section 3(2);

• “enforcement authority” means a body designated as such under section 28(1);

• “enforcement notice” has the meaning given by section 32(3);

• “the environment” includes land, air, water and living organisms supported by any of those media;

• “gamete” has the meaning given by section 2(4);

• “legislation” means— primary legislation, retained direct EU legislation, or subordinate legislation;

• “marketable precision bred organism” has the meaning given by section 5(2);

• “marketing notice” has the meaning given by section 6(1);

• “modern biotechnology” has the meaning given by section 1(3);

• “modify”, in relation to legislation, includes amend, repeal or revoke (and related terms are to be read accordingly);

• “monetary penalty notice” has the meaning given by section 35(1);

• “the negative procedure” has the meaning given by section 43(5);

• “notifier”, in relation to a marketing notice, has the meaning given by section 6(1) (but see section 11(9));

• “organism” (except in section 2) means plant or animal;

• “Part 2 obligation” has the meaning given by section 21;

• “Part 3 obligation” has the meaning given by section 29;

• “plant” has the meaning given by section 2(1);

• “precision bred” has the meaning given by section 1;

• “precision bred animal marketing authorisation” means a marketing authorisation issued under section 13(1);

• “precision bred confirmation” has the meaning given by section 8(1)(a)(i);

• “precision bred organism” has the meaning given by section 1(1);

• “precision bred trait”, in relation to a relevant animal, means a trait of the animal which results from a feature of the animal’s genome that results from the application of modern biotechnology;

• “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations;

• “primary legislation” means— an Act, an Act of the Scottish Parliament, an Act or Measure of Senedd Cymru, or Northern Ireland legislation;

• “progeny”, in relation to a precision bred organism, includes any progeny of the organism, whether resulting from sexual or asexual reproduction;

• “qualifying progeny” has the meaning given by section 24;

• “the register” has the meaning given by section 18;

• “regulations” means regulations made by the Secretary of State;

• “relevant animal” has the meaning given by section 10;

• “relevant breach” has the meaning given by section 31(1);

• “stop notice” has the meaning given by section 34(1);

• “subordinate legislation” means an instrument made under primary legislation or under retained direct EU legislation;

• “the welfare advisory body” has the meaning given by section 22(3).

Financial provisions

45

The following are to be paid out of money provided by Parliament—

• (a) any expenditure incurred under or by virtue of this Act by the Secretary of State or the Food Standards Agency, and

• (b) sums payable out of money so provided under any other Act.

Crown application

46

• (1) This Act binds the Crown.

• (2) If the Secretary of State certifies that it appears to the Secretary of State appropriate in the interests of national security that powers of entry conferred under this Act should not be exercisable in relation to Crown premises specified in the certificate, those powers are not exercisable in relation to those premises.

• (3) In subsection (2), “Crown premises” means premises held, or used, by or on behalf of the Crown.

• (4) No power of entry conferred under this Act may be exercised in relation to land belonging to His Majesty in right of His private estates.

• (5) In subsection (4), the reference to His Majesty’s private estates is to be construed in accordance with section 1 of the Crown Private Estates Act 1862.

Extent and application to sea areas

47

• (1) Subject as follows, this Act extends to England and Wales only.

• (2) Part 1 and section 41 extend to England and Wales and Scotland only.

• (3) Sections 42 to 46, this section and section 48 extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

• (4) This Act—

• (a) applies to the territorial sea adjacent to England as it applies in England;

• (b) applies to any area for the time being designated under section 1(7) of the Continental Shelf Act 1964 as it applies in England.

Short title and commencement

48

• (1) This Act may be cited as the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023.

• (2) Part 1 comes into force on the day on which this Act is passed.

• (3) Parts 2 to 4 and sections 39 and 40 come into force—

• (a) so far as necessary to enable the exercise of any power to make regulations, on the day on which this Act is passed;

• (b) for remaining purposes, on such day as regulations may appoint.

• (4) Section 41 comes into force on such day as regulations may appoint.

• (5) The rest of this Part comes into force on the day on which this Act is passed.

• (6) Regulations under this section may appoint different days for different purposes.

• (7) Regulations may make transitional, transitory or saving provision in connection with the coming into force of any provision of this Act.

• (8) Regulations under this section are to be made by statutory instrument.

Precision bred organism

Meaning of “plant” and “animal”

Restrictions on release of precision bred organism in England

Release of precision bred organism: notification requirements

Restrictions on marketing of precision bred organism in England

Application for precision bred confirmation

Report by advisory committee

Issue of precision bred confirmation

Revocation of precision bred confirmation

Meaning of “relevant animal”

Application for precision bred animal marketing authorisation

Report by welfare advisory body

Issue of precision bred animal marketing authorisation

Precision bred animal marketing authorisations: reporting obligations

Suspension and revocation of precision bred animal marketing authorisation

Reviews and appeals relating to Part 2

Restrictions on importation and acquisition of precision bred organisms in England

Precision breeding register

Inspectors

Monitoring and inspection of Part 2 obligations

Meaning of “Part 2 obligation”

Advisory bodies

Advisory bodies: time limits etc

Meaning of “qualifying progeny”

Precision bred animal marketing authorisation: adverse effects

Regulation of food and feed produced from precision bred organisms

Food and feed marketing authorisations: register

Monitoring and inspection of Part 3 obligations

Meaning of “Part 3 obligation”

Interpretation of Part 3

Meaning of “relevant breach” etc

Enforcement

Compliance notices

Stop notices

Monetary penalty notices

Content of enforcement notices: further provision

Enforcement notices: reviews and appeals

Costs

Fees

Notices and documents

Consequential amendments of the Environmental Protection Act 1990

Power to make consequential provision

Regulations

Interpretation

Financial provisions

Crown application

Extent and application to sea areas

Short title and commencement

Editorial notes

[^key-03bba1b2db22f8c8ac58df493ff43697]: S. 1 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 48(2)

[^key-1d15e06dfa545393113ae5f9a77f635a]: S. 2 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 48(2)

[^key-6bc91171fb6036e52e5ab86e305c68ea]: S. 3 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-bd92ff01d9449e9be2dedc2ed19327d9]: S. 4 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-e005d9f01d92c732d8831ccf9a6a5329]: S. 5 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-dec3839578609aa4796300c54ba73448]: S. 6 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-5b774b0bf8b7ac01671dce31c2f5e67b]: S. 7 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-b3ed3f68d7460f352fb2debf2783cec3]: S. 8 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-07b5a72193f61f853751d89a26908f42]: S. 9 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-e25061a6d1351d9ea188222508b411b2]: S. 10 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-930ca3a1977b99127d7966d7b3d4f375]: S. 11 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-f2cb68dce0ce1e42f79c370184b4e0ae]: S. 12 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-a6e84ed6daedebcc574dc9ef7e380090]: S. 13 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-b0c4dba505b4e8c3b18cba66bfaa0d6d]: S. 14 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-b280692e5222b4fd42d1042f4f72e39e]: S. 15 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-33cc11f3e114783a10adf7e19a21ca90]: S. 16 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-903dbd1f7010f8fc466cf59c6d9cc85d]: S. 17 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-730e28775d347f7846cc76693a3c1762]: S. 18 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-a6c9cd5369607fdf98dcd36740be8755]: S. 19 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-e5ff438ffe80d5a7166ff4a280f0b36e]: S. 20 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-db3d46937bdbf24696b4f4691650b337]: S. 21 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-7d9daa7e4fe5a52fe7b5e51857c1c7f4]: S. 22 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-56a20c0ffe5b77c107689076a01d0371]: S. 23 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-6719257053a374e1e74893bc2350b6ed]: S. 24 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-e215a6ff642ccaa048d701644628cb6c]: S. 25 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-f5ef5dcf528fec73d2c58ff10d794191]: S. 26 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-1b9043ce4922afc1e28120fdf10796cf]: S. 27 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-2c7038444a0a47623ac008ab5045fc7f]: S. 28 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-64d1d6d3455580476a025e28ad15caa0]: S. 29 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-4c7ab289cfa1b5fda32bb1e8d29664fd]: S. 30 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-2fba7554807103916ed48cce7db3a1c9]: S. 31 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-42e3a84d151acdb6e9cfbee24379a255]: S. 32 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-872a4061915f2b9739bdb58017c39009]: S. 33 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-954a19def479dc60862d03d5bb11e46a]: S. 34 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-dd0bf055b2413c01ec9088892cc85401]: S. 35 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-840defd241d09fc959d070e1af4a3d4f]: S. 36 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-4fb6f9bb41e6154c07444f88982be007]: S. 37 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-8f150e46d8a061909bb267ba8ab65ece]: S. 38 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-25a36308ea5498970bb0d8d5840ebd46]: S. 39 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-7c51eeae7ca8ef440f0f15a475af9cb3]: S. 40 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 48(3)(a)

[^key-730883eabf51f79a7c067c67465485d4]: S. 41 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 48(4)

[^key-29e90b7e84b9c59b5ee3cb2b141fe68b]: S. 42 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 48(5)

[^key-489efd523ba8919e75b5160420a0d84f]: S. 43 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 48(5)

[^key-844e27750db436e9e182f41ff934c2b8]: S. 44 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 48(5)

[^key-8e578f8ee38c22ea588a0262dacb9198]: S. 45 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 48(5)

[^key-1059dac1a37949d2895ed471847eedc3]: S. 46 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 48(5)

[^key-b915971533d0eeab9f5da5fb09dc62c2]: S. 47 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 48(5)

[^key-a8c4b92e650d9aa5eea6f19cdb4aa467]: S. 48 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 48(5)

[^key-b8af9eed42d425eee7ed3a0f14a0a672]: S. 18(1)(a)-(e)(i)(j)(2)-(8) in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(2)(d)

[^key-6f0464c181939994826bcc9e6b3cdf1a]: S. 3 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(2)(a)

[^key-fb14d69e364ae5bf218cafe271cdba32]: S. 4 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(2)(a)

[^key-222dc425d28aa63d3a9e45d2eac10e43]: S. 5 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(2)(a)

[^key-723837983629666ee84cb58f53685d50]: S. 6 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(2)(a)

[^key-21c961b50ef4a90af2e4abdcd991f9e4]: S. 7 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(2)(a)

[^key-619d5613214b1a1ee04e13fa54b2cfba]: S. 8 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(2)(a)

[^key-d7b3c9b027cba3a08d86c3c561efdd4d]: S. 9 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(2)(a)

[^key-32749a9e3f5798b3ffac67e19b26d2e1]: S. 17 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(2)(c)

[^key-9fba46397d260868ee079d214c1bb5b4]: S. 19 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(2)(e)

[^key-ae0ad4fcd96d8e571d354a43e6811ebd]: S. 20 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(2)(e)

[^key-22691c706f65fe258a2b360e8d5d4c4d]: S. 21 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(2)(e)

[^key-470be4570e215946e3d6e5246b6df1f2]: S. 23 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(2)(g)

[^key-54dd52de7cd427ec7a86fb213b6a7bd0]: S. 24 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(2)(g)

[^key-d2f13659dabab9a9c517835c8800988e]: S. 26 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(3)

[^key-1508676d4d244979eeca73edf9cb0936]: S. 27 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(3)

[^key-583799b84353508fbf6db5e4faac7076]: S. 28 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(3)

[^key-876729d5d870903c8f93f990a9c3fc9c]: S. 29 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(3)

[^key-4fb7ee6f49eaf467c737df1c47c82622]: S. 30 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(3)

[^key-90db543f9786399a15184bc6839c9815]: S. 31 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(4)

[^key-88fab67c5541a5941b40854b00a4e9b5]: S. 32 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(4)

[^key-d3d87720cd657ce8190003653f883d1b]: S. 33 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(4)

[^key-1280fe771de374653a77185a3873db8c]: S. 34 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(4)

[^key-d2a14c654c912558d356e8e4bf3a0c62]: S. 35 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(4)

[^key-5f5ad785c9390c571493d4922ef309da]: S. 36 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(4)

[^key-5e1a9774a3f95f962c80c021938e6c6a]: S. 37 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(4)

[^key-7565b568a8f06d9b271987d28c7a54a4]: S. 38 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(4)

[^key-c21c815b03228ef03e6367185ea8ad77]: S. 40 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(5)

[^key-ba71efeb912af25ff9c146b5eae59680]: S. 41 in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(5)

[^key-5629017ca8b54081db54f446ab5d5511]: S. 16(1)(2)(3)(a)(b)(4)(5) in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(2)(b)

[^key-f3148ba0b7469033f642ee74500d5955]: S. 22(1)(2) in force at 13.11.2025 for specified purposes by S.I. 2025/575, reg. 2(2)(f)