Defra unveils gene editing goals in departure from EU policy 7 January 2021 | The consultation looks at permitting the use of gene-edited crops and livestock in England The government has unveiled a consultation on the UK's future gene editing policy in a bid to help farmers and growers boost food production. Defra Secretary George Eustice will highlight the benefits of the technology at the Oxford Farming Conference today (7 January) in what is seen as a major departure from EU policy. The European Court of Justice ruled in 2018 that gene editing should be subject to the same regulations as genetic modification, a move labelled as 'flawed' by Mr Eustice.