The proposed UK Government’s Genetic Technology Bill has failed to proceed in Scotland after a vote in the scottish Parliament.

MSPs from SNP, Labour, Greens and Liberal Democrats united to vote to not give consent to the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill. The 93 cross-party votes also called on the UK Government to amend the Bill to restrict its geographical application, or make it a requirement for consent of the Scottish Ministers when changing rules.

The only support in Scotland for the controversial Bill covering Scotland came from the 30 voting Conservative MSPs.

The aim of the Bill was to alter the definition of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) to exclude certain organisms (plants, including algae) created by genetic technologies in ways which could have occurred naturally, or been produced by traditional breeding. Following the vote the current ban on GMO technology in Scotland will remain, despite the fact this country contains centres of excellence for research into the technology.

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The Scottish Green Party said the legislation was ‘genetic modification through the backdoor’ and that the Bill would allow UK ministers to amend devolved regulations. Its Ariane Burgess said: “This reckless Bill is a danger to devolution. It would promote untested, controversial and unlabelled gene edited plant and animal products and undermine environmental standards.

“Many of us hoped that we had stopped this kind of meddling with nature long ago, but this Bill would undo a lot of that work and would introduce genetic modification through the backdoor. It could be a big leap backwards for animal welfare and consumer standards.

“The Scottish Parliament should have the powers to make the decisions that it sees fit to protect the environment and the public, and this Bill undermines that."

Meanwhile, West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine Conservative MP, Andrew Bowie, said Scottish farmers were being blocked from growing healthier, cheaper food because of the decision.

He told The Scottish Farmer: "This technology offers a route towards food security, lower prices for farmers and consumers, and greener practices. Food producers across the UK want these changes made and they do not appreciate being made a constitutional football by the SNP.

"Farmers and research institutes – including Roslin and James Hutton, in Scotland – want access to this technology and I would suggest politicians start listening to the experts. If they don’t, our food producers and life sciences sector could be left on an uneven playing field when supplying their biggest market, ie the rest of the UK.”