MPs call for UK to ban Chinese gene research firm from government contracts

[Still Waters]

Rishi Sunak is under pressure to follow the US and bar the Chinese genome research company BGI Group from government contracts as the firm recommitted to continue its work in the UK.

MPs on the defence, foreign and health select committees along with former Lib Dem cabinet minister Alistair Carmichael have joined calls for action over fears that the company and others pose a security risk to genetic data in the UK.

Last week, Washington added BGI subsidiaries BGI Research and BGI Tech Solutions to a trade blacklist due to concerns over the risk of Americans’ genetic data being stored and misused.

In the UK, BGI Genomics, part of BGI Group, was awarded a Covid testing contract in 2021. The Chinese company has also worked alongside and shared data with UK universities and the Wellcome Trust charitable foundation.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/mar/08/mps-call-for-uk-to-ban-chinese-gene-research-firm-from-government-contracts-bgi-group