Announcement in the new UK Genetic Technology Lawwill enable the manufacture and commercialization of “precision-bred” or genome-edited vertebrate plants and animals.

through a pers conferencethe British government reported that it would allow farmers to produce drought and disease resistant plants, reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides And help raise animalsincluding pets, so they are protected from dangerous diseases.

For the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), this initiative could lead to the creation of cats and dogs with extreme characteristics.

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“Gene editing can be a big step backwards for animals. We don’t believe these laws should cover animals, whether farmed, domesticated, or wild. Invasive procedures are required to create each gene-edited mammalian line, there is no history of using this advanced technology, and it can cause unwanted changes to the genome, with unpredictable effects. The RSPCA has serious ethical and animal welfare concerns about this,” they said Guardian.

That genome editing are a group of techniques that allow changes to DNA. Animal organizations warn that it involves procedures that can cause “long-lasting pain, suffering, grief and damage”.

Under the new legislation, genetically modified animals and food will not be classified in the UK as genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and will not need to be labeled as such.

The law of “step by step”.

UK Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey has stated that a “step-by-step” approach will be taken when issuing the regulatory framework accompanying the law.

“While there is great potential for increased innovation, the government recognizes that there is a need to protect animal welfare within the new regulatory framework. That’s why we adopted a step-by-step approach, which allows the use of precision breeding technologies with plants first and then animals.

The RSPCA does not believe that vertebrate animals should be involved, let alone specimens such as pets.

“By allowing the inclusion of all vertebrate animals in it [legislación]the British government opened a Pandora’s box of what might be allowed in the future,” muses David Bowles, RSPCA head of campaigns and public affairs.