UK must challenge inappropriate European regulations and to start field tests of genetically modified insects that were bred to exterminate vermin, carrying disease and damaging crops and people, said on Thursday British lawmakers.

An influential Committee of the upper house of Parliament said that GM insects, such as mosquitoes or sterile cabbage moth with a program of self-destruction, strong capability against diseases such as malaria and dengue fever, as well as in the management of pests, the damage from which is estimated in billions of pounds.

But the development of the technology of GM insects suspended because of the regulatory system of the EU is inappropriate, stated in the report of the Committee on science and technology House of lords.

According to the report, "moral duty" of the British government to test the potential of GM insects, to acquaint the public with the idea, and also allow full field trials in the UK.

One of the leading companies engaged in the breeding of GM insects, is a British company Oxitec separated from the Oxford University and now owned by an American biotechnology company Intrexon Corp.

With the aim of developing environmentally friendly, according to the company, without pesticides to control insect pests, scientists have deduced the company's GM moths and mosquitoes with a gene of "self-destruct", which means they produce only male offspring.

Method of genetic modification has reduced the population of mosquitoes carrying dengue fever to more than 90% in tests in Brazil, Panama and the Cayman Islands.

But genetically modified organisms with caution by authorities in many countries in Europe, and companies developing GM insects and GM seeds of cereals, reported that it is almost impossible to overcome regulatory barriers for conducting field examinations.

The Committee noted that, unlike insecticides, which can adversely affect the number of insects, including bees, GM approach is aimed at specific species, affecting only the selected pest.

Self-destruct gene used in the GM-insects, also is non-toxic, so birds or other animals eating these insects, do not receive adverse impacts.

Source: Thomson Reuters