Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding): The New Law You Need to Know About
Last month, the UK passed the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act, paving the way for gene-edited crops and animals to enter supermarket shelves in England as early as 2026—without labels or traceability. As a Soil Association certified organic beauty brand, we believe this law poses a serious challenge to organic integrity.
Should you be concerned?
The new law will mean:
🌱 1. No Labelling = No Choice
The new law does not require gene-edited foods to be labelled, meaning you could be buying and consuming Precision Bred Organisms (PBOs) without knowing it.
🔍 If it’s not on the label, you can’t make an informed decision – and neither can organic brands trying to avoid them.
🔁 2. No Traceability in Supply Chains
There is no legal obligation to track or separate PBOs in the food system. That makes it nearly impossible for organic and non-GMO producers to ensure their ingredients remain uncontaminated.
📦 For businesses, this means greater cost and effort just to protect what the law no longer guarantees.
🐝 3. Potential Environmental Impact
Gene-edited crops may have unintended effects on ecosystems, pollinators like bees, and plant diversity. Without long-term data or environmental assessments, we’re flying blind into irreversible changes.
Gene-edited crops might have:
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Different chemical compositions (e.g., pollen, nectar, or secondary metabolites);
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Modified flowering times or other traits affecting how attractive or accessible they are to bees.
➡️ These changes could reduce the nutritional quality of pollen or nectar, impacting bee immunity, reproduction, and lifespan.
If bee health declines, food security, biodiversity, and ecosystems collapse in a domino effect.
🌍 4. Organic Standards at Risk
PBOs are banned under organic regulations – but if they’re not labelled or traceable, they could infiltrate organic supply chains, forcing organic businesses to shoulder the burden (and cost) of keeping them out.
💷 5. Unfair Burden on Ethical Brands
The law allows biotech developers to profit from gene-edited crops, while organic brands are left to police the system, absorb costs, and maintain trust without regulatory support.
⚖️ In essence, those doing the most for the planet pay the highest price.
🇬🇧 6. UK Diverges From Global Standards
The UK now treats PBOs differently from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the EU – creating confusion and trade barriers for organic products.
🌐 For exporters and consumers, this threatens consistency and confidence in “organic” across borders.
'We believe that all GM techniques, new and old, must remain subject to risk assessment, traceability and labelling to ensure farmer choice, consumer choice and the safeguarding of health and the environment. Regulation is needed not only for novel traits, but also for the process of DNA interference itself.' - The Soil Association
💚 Tabitha JK’s Commitment to Purity
At Tabitha JK Organic Haircare, we were founded on a belief in harnessing the purest botanical ingredients. We're proud to hold the Soil Association organic certification—and we’re not willing to compromise. Our formulas are rooted in natural, non-GMO components that honour the planet’s cycles.
The new law makes protecting that purity more challenging, but not impossible. We remain committed to:
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Vetting every ingredient, ensuring nothing we use has been gene-edited.
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Maintaining close dialogue with our ingredient suppliers.
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Staying transparent with our community—letting you know if gene-edited crops ever appear in the supply chain.
🌾 What the Soil Association Is Fighting For
The Soil Association has been vocal—and resolute—about the risks of deregulating gene-edited crops. Soil Association Policy Director Brendan Costelloe said:
“We are disappointed with Defra’s commitment to push forward with precision bred organisms (PBOs) in spite of public opinion, and the risks this could pose to our ability to trade organic … it is vital … to ensure full transparency of PBOs with clear labelling to reassure and protect consumer choice, secure the organic and GMO‑free sector, and protect trade” - The Soil Association
They are pushing for:
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Mandatory PBO labelling and traceability throughout supply chains
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Pre-market risk assessments for biodiversity and environmental safety
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Registration and documentation of all gene-edited products
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Segregation systems so organic remains uncontaminated
💚 How You Can Help
You’re more than a customer—you’re our partner in protecting what’s pure. Here’s what you can do:
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Stay informed: We'll share updates as the situation develops and keep you in the loop.
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Raise your voice: Write to your MP and tell them you want mandatory labelling of PBOs and strong protections for organic integrity.
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Support brands that stand firm on organic values—and share this message with friends who trust natural, sustainable care.
While the Genetic Technology Act opens doors for gene-edited ingredients to enter products unnoticed, Tabitha JK—together with the Soil Association—will continue to fight for transparency and ensure our products remain true to their organic values.
We will remain vigilant and proactive, collaborating with the Soil Association and others to uphold the high standards that define organic. Our promise to you is unwavering: we’ll keep your hair, your body, and our planet nurtured by nature, free from hidden genetically altered ingredients.
By choosing certified organic products, you are voting for a system that prioritizes environmental health, animal welfare, and yes, natural genetics. Thank you for standing with us. Your trust matters, and together we can uphold the purity that defines organic beauty.