Part 1: Precision Breeding: Definitions 1: Precision bred organism
This section provides the definition of "precision bred organism" and related terms for the purposes of this Act.
	Subsection (1) defines "precision bred organism" as a precision bred plant, or a precision bred animal.
	Subsection (2) of this section establishes the conditions under which an organism is considered to be precision bred for the purposes of the Act. It dictates that the genome of such organisms must have been altered using modern biotechnology, that these alterations must be stable and that all features of its genome that have been made using modern biotechnology could also have arisen by traditional processes, whether or not in conjunction with selection techniques, alone. It also dictates that an organism cannot be precision bred if it contains any genetic features which have been made by artificial modification techniques, other than modern biotechnology.
	Subsection (3) outlines the definition of modern biotechnology for the purposes of this Act. This aligns with the techniques listed in regulation 5(1)(a) or (b) of the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/2443). Regulation 5(1)(a) of those Regulations lists techniques which are considered to constitute artificial alteration of an organism for the purposes of Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, while regulation 5(1)(b) lists techniques which are not considered to constitute artificial alteration of an organism for that purpose.
	Subsection (4) further outlines the definition of a stable genomic feature laid out in subsection (2). It dictates that the genomic feature must be capable of being passed on to subsequent generations whether by sexual or asexual means.
	Subsection (5) outlines matters to be disregarded when conducting the test of whether an organism made using modern biotechnology could also have arisen via traditional processes. These are: the number of times a genomic feature repeats in the genome (copy number), the set of chemical modifications to the genome and its associated proteins (epigenetic status), and the position of a genomic feature within the genome (location).
	Subsection (6) outlines a list of traditional processes for plants and animals, in relation to this Part. The lists cover the range of genomic alterations that could occur through traditional processes.
	Subsection (7) defines "artificial modification technique", for subsection (2), as any technique by which genes or other genetic material can be artificially modified within Part 6 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
	Subsection (8) allows the definition of "modern biotechnology" to be amended to mirror changes that may occur in regulation 5 of the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/2443), or if the powers in subsection (4B) or (4C) of section 106 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 are exercised to prescribe techniques that are (or are not, as the case may be), considered to constitute artificial modification for the purposes of that Act.
	Subsection (9) specifies that regulations made under this section are subject to the draft affirmative procedure.
	Subsection (10) makes it possible for organisms to which subsection (11) applies to qualify for "precision bred" status regardless of the exclusion outlined in subsection (2)(d), provided they meet all other criteria set out in subsection (2).
	Subsection (11) outlines which artificially modified organisms should have the potential to gain "precision bred" status. These are organisms which are not considered to be genetically modified in Part 6 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Specifically, organisms with genetic features produced through techniques mentioned in regulation 5 paragraph (3) of the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/2443), and organisms mentioned in regulations under subsection (4C) of section 106 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.