Press releases

Gene editing consultation pushes Government plan to remove vital safeguards Instead of working with people to understand their concerns, Defra is pushing a high-tech, quick-fix agenda

Comment (7 Jan 2021)

Responding to Environment Minister George Eustice’s speech launching a Defra consultation on plans to de-regulate gene editing, GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill said: People have many concerns about the use of genetic engineering in food and farming so public engagement …
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“Surrogate sires” are just media hype to improve the image of GMOs

Comment (15 Sep 2020)

Commenting on news that scientists from Edinburgh and the United States are using new GMO to develop an alternative to highly successful artificial insemination programmes, GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill said: This is yet another “proof of concept” study being …
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GM groups call on the public: Ask Ministers to reject plans to deregulate genome editing

Immediate release (2 Jul 2020)

Three of the UK’s largest GM campaigns – GM Freeze, Beyond GM and GMWatch – have joined together to oppose an amendment to the Agriculture Bill that would give the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs …
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Changing GMO definition would remove vital safeguards Plans to amend the Agriculture Bill would hand ministers power to deregulate genome editing

Comment (28 May 2020)

It has come to light that a group of MPs, backed by industry lobby groups, plans to table an amendment to the Agriculture Bill paving the way for ministers to alter the definition of a GMO in UK law. The …
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GM regulations are essential safeguards New PM misses the mark on GM in food and farming

Comment (26 Jul 2019)

Commenting on Boris Johnson’s view that we need to be “liberated” from GM regulations, GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill said: If we need to be liberated from anything, it’s the idea that technology can provide quick fixes for all of …
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Gene silencing plans make objectors shout louder Plans for new GM crop trial raise objections from leading environmental and farming organisations

Immediate release (16 Apr 2019)

Thirty-one organisations including some of the UK’s biggest environmental organisations, farmers, scientists, seed distributors and retailers lodged a formal objection today to The Sainsbury Laboratory’s plans for a new open-air field trial of GM potatoes on farms in Suffolk and …
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Pick-and-mix GM crop plans are playing games with regulations Plans for new GM crop trials raise objections from leading environmental and farming organisations

Immediate release (21 Mar 2019)

Thirty-five organisations including some of the UK’s biggest environmental organisations, farmers, scientists, seed distributors and retailers yesterday lodged a formal objection to plans for a new open-air field trial of GM camelina plants at Rothamsted Research’s farms in Hertfordshire and …
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High iron doughnuts and promiscuous brassicas prompt objections to proposed GM field trials

Immediate release (26 Feb 2019)

Thirty-three organisations including farmers, researchers, seed distributors, retailers and environmentalists today lodged formal objections to proposed open-air field trials of biofortified GM wheat and genome edited brassica in Norfolk. Disputing health claims made by researchers at the John Innes Centre …
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New petition launched to protect GM food labels

Immediate release (2 Oct 2018)

A new petition, aiming to protect consumers’ right to make an informed choice about their food choices, was launched online this week. Presented jointly by campaign groups GM Freeze and Beyond GM , the Don’t Hide What’s Inside petition calls …
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Campaign groups demand action as Rothamsted Research GM field trial is ruled unlawful GM Freeze and GeneWatch UK write to Michael Gove following key ECJ ruling

Immediate release (25 Jul 2018)

GM Freeze and GeneWatch UK have today written to Environment Secretary Michael Gove, to demand the immediate halt of an unlawful trial of gene edited plants at Rothamsted Research (1). The trial of genetically modified (GM) Camelina sativa, includes some …
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