Genomics sector won't be designated critical infrastructure in UK

A leaked letter between government officials has highlighted national security concerns to UK health data, yet the UK Government has decided the genomics sector will not be designated as critical national infrastructure.

The letter from cabinet officer minister John Glen, in reply to a Conservative MP, addressed concerns that China may be a security threat to UK health data. It revealed the Government had national security concerns about BGI Group, a Chinese genome sequencing company, and wider hacking of UK health data. Last year, the UK Government was reviewing whether to designate the genomics sector as a critical national infrastructure (see BioNews 1207), however, it has now concluded it will not.

'On genomics, ultimately, we took a decision not to designate it as [critical national infrastructure] because we're confident that actually there's already very strong existing legislation and regulation around that, within the health care sector,' said deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden in a Q&A session after a speech on economic security at Chatham House. 'So on balance, I was reassured that we have all the controls that we would by designating it [critical national infrastructure] through existing legislation.'

Critical national infrastructure is essential services that, if lost or compromised, could cause a major detrimental impact on national security, potentially causing significant loss of life or having a negative economic or social impact.

BGI Group developed the 'NIFTY' brand of non-invasive prenatal tests to detect genetic abnormalities in fetuses that is used by women internationally. A Reuters investigation in 2021 found that BGI Group shared genetic information with the Chinese Government for population research (see BioNews 1103), which prompted UK politicians and peers to request an investigation into BGI Group and the potential risks associated to the access China has to the British population's genomic data (see BioNews 1192). This led the UK Government to consider whether genomics should be critical national infrastructure.

The leaked letter stated 'significant work related to national security' was being conducted to 'minimise the risks' that had been previously highlighted about BGI Group. Glen also confirmed organisations like Genomics England 'actively consider national security in decision-making about partnerships with companies overseas'.

Remarking on this letter, Labour MP Fabian Hamilton told i newspaper, 'This is a credible, serious national security threat that has been raised by MPs from across the political spectrum.'

Several UK MPs have previously raised concerns that Chinese hacking would provide information to Beijing on diseases that affect the British population, allowing opportunity to obtain exclusive rights to technology and patents, giving China leverage over the UK's health. Some have also claimed China could synthesise diseases that would specifically impact the British population based on its genetic composition.

Several subsidiaries of the BGI Group have already been added to the United States trade blacklist - most recently in March 2023, due to them presenting a 'significant risk' of providing information to Chinese government.

BGI Group commented, 'The BGI Group has never been, and never will be, involved in 'hack attacks' against anyone… We will continue to support the UK in improving the health of the people and continue to advocate for open and inclusive global scientific collaboration with the aim of fighting diseases more effectively.'