Genetically Modified Organisms

(asked on 14th June 2023) - View Source

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to prevent pollen or seeds from trials of genetically modified crops from spreading to the surrounding environment.


Answered by
Mark Spencer Portrait
Mark Spencer
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This question was answered on 19th June 2023

Under existing regulations, consent for release of GM crops for non-marketing purposes requires the applicant to submit a dossier of information.

This is scientifically assessed for risk to the environment by our independent scientific expert panel, ACRE (the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment). Their expert advice informs the Secretary of State’s decision to grant consent for release of the GM crop for trial. Consent is only granted if measures are in place to ensure the risk of either pollen or seeds from GM plants entering the environment is negligible.

After consent is given, the GM Inspectorate undertakes the inspection and auditing to ensure that the consent conditions specific for each trial are adhered to.

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