PART 3Techniques to which these Regulations do not apply
3. These Regulations (except regulation 18) shall not apply to the following techniques of genetic modification, provided that they do not involve the use of recombinant nucleic acid molecules or of genetically modified organisms other than those made by one or more of the following techniques—
(a)mutagenesis;
(b)cell fusion (including protoplast fusion) of prokaryotic species which can exchange genetic material through homologous recombination;
(c)cell fusion (including protoplast fusion) of cells of any eukaryotic species, including production of hybridomas and plant cell fusions;
(d)self-cloning, where the resulting organism is unlikely to cause disease or harm to humans, animals or plants.
4. In paragraph 3—
(a)“self-cloning” means the removal of nucleic acid sequences from a cell of an organism which may or may not be followed by reinsertion of all or part of that nucleic acid (or a synthetic equivalent), whether or not altered by enzymic or mechanical processes, into cells of the same species or into cells of phylogenetically closely related species which can exchange genetic material by homologous recombination; and
(b)self-cloning may include the use of recombinant vectors, with an extended history of safe use in the particular organism, to manipulate and reinsert the nucleic acid sequences, but the vectors shall not consist of any genetic elements other than those designed for vector structure, vector replication, vector maintenance or marker genes.