GovWire

The proposals in this Bill would enable the regulatory requirements for genetically modified organism (GMO) plants to reflect the level of associated risk. The proposals would reform existing regulation of genetic technologies in England through introducing a new category of organisms developed through modern biotechnology and putting further provisions in place to create a more-proportionate risk-based regulatory environment.

The Impact Assessment (IA) for the proposals has been rated NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE (red-rated), on both the assessment of the equivalent annual net direct costs to business (EANDCB) and the small and micro-business assessment (SaMBA). The Department has amended its original IA to address sufficiently the concerns raised by the RPC in its initial review notice. However, the revised IA also includes an amended description of the proposals which include the creation of a new category of organisms, in a way that changes the RPCs understanding of what is being proposed. The RPC considers that the present IA does not consider sufficiently all the potential impacts that could result from the creation of a new category as now described. The consideration of the impacts is therefore not fit for purpose. This extends to the impacts faced by small and micro businesses and whether those businesses may face disproportionate burdens as a result of the proposed policy.

The RPC also finds weaknesses in the IAs consideration of rationale and options, cost-benefit analysis and wider impacts, but the discussion of the monitoring and evaluation plan was assessed as good. The RPC does not comment on government policy options or proposed measures and nothing in this opinion should be interpreted as expressing a view on them.

The revised IA was submitted for RPC scrutiny after the bill had been introduced to Parliament. The RPC publishes its opinion to assist parliamentary scrutiny of the bill.

The IA and associated documents can be found here