Further evidence that biotechnology companies are unable to manage the release of genetically modified (GM) crops in the UK came to light today when Aventis admitted significant contamination of oilseed rape trials in England and Scotland. The GM crop, which is resistant to the herbicide Liberty, was also found to contain marker genes conferring resistance to the antibiotics neomycin and kanamycin, and makes up 2.8% of the total crop that Aventis has tested in the UK since 1999. The Government's Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) strongly criticised Aventis for a lapse in their quality control system and the Scottish Executive described the contamination as a "serious breach" of GM regulations. This confirms Greenpeace's fears that biotech companies are incapable of guaranteeing the safety of their products. Aventis has clearly shown that it cannot even make sure the Farm Scale Trials are run properly. Who knows what mistakes it will make if it ever gets the chance to grow GM crops commercially.
The oilseed rape variety in question has been grown on farm trials around the country since 1999, but it is only now that Aventis has cottoned on to the problem. The threat of antibiotic resistance from GM crops is no joke and questions must be asked about a Government that allows a company to get away with this sort of thing. Although the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Minister Elliot Morley stressed that the "issue demonstrates our need to be vigilant with quality control," Aventis were testing an unauthorised GM crop for three years without the Government realising, even though they visited the company in April. The biotech company, which was recently bought by German chemical giant Bayer, claim to have "moved swiftly" to inform regulators of the contamination after they conducted an internal audit, but now faces the threat of legal action. This could mean huge fines and possible jail sentences for company directors.
Antibiotic resistance in GM crops has come under intense regulatory scrutiny in recent years because of the possibility that they could pass on resistance to humans. The European Union Directive 2001/18 on the deliberate release of GMOs, which comes into force in October, will mean that GM crops containing antibiotic resistance marker genes that may have an adverse effect on human health or the environment must be phased out by 2004. The House of Lords, the Royal Society and the Government's Advisory Committee on Novel Food and Processes (ACNFP) have strongly echoed these sentiments. The ACNFP said that "a major concern is what will happen when large quantities of DNA are released from GM plantsthere is a significant risk of environmental bacteria acquiring these resistance genes."
As yet, ACRE does not know how the contamination occurred and an investigation will be launched, though Aventis think the contaminated seed was imported from Belgium. The Scottish Executive added that the company "has been given very strong advice to make sure this doesn't happen again," but Greenpeace believes that the Government must now stop field trials in the UK and find out whether any of the oilseed rape scheduled to be planted in the autumn in also contaminated.
The affected sites are:
- Meden Vale, Nottinghamshire
- Horningtoft, Norfolk
- Aldborough, East Yorkshire
- Winfarthing, Norfolk
- Hinstock, Shropshire
- Oakenshaw, Durham
- Thorganby, Lincolnshire
- Ludford, Lincolnshire
- Bagley, Shropshire
- Kilnwick Percy, East Yorkshire
- Hilton, Dorset
- Nafferton, East Yorkshire
- Daviot, Aberdeenshire
Further information:
Contact:
Greenpeace press office on 020 78658255
