Press releases

Westminster Bill aims to impose new GMOs on UK citizens GM Freeze comments on the publication of the Government's Genetic Technology Bill

Comment (25 May 2022)

Commenting on the the UK Government’s Genetic Technology Bill – and the news that Environment Minister George Eustice does not believe that genetically modified organisms created with newer GM techniques should be declared on food labels, GM Freeze Director Liz …
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We need system change not GM ketchup GM tomato won’t address the problem of vitamin D deficiency because poor nutrition is a function of poverty and a broken food system

Comment (23 May 2022)

Commenting on news that the John Innes Centre is growing GM tomatoes under new rules that allow experimental GMOs to be released without proper scrutiny, GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill said: The John Innes Centre has chosen to release experimental …
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Time for Government to start listening to ordinary people rather than those with a vested interest GM Freeze responds to Environment Minister's comments in the press about planned Genetic Technology Bill

Comment (20 May 2022)

Commenting on an article in The I, in which Environment Secretary George Eustice boasts that the Genetic Technology Bill will be passed into law this year and will bring unlabelled GMOs to supermarket shelves across the UK by 2023, GM …
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No public support for removal of GM safeguards GM Freeze responds to measures announced in Queen's Speech

Comment (10 May 2022)

Responding to plans for a Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill, announced in today’s Queen’s Speech and detailed on page 61 of the Lobby Pack briefing notes, Liz O’Neill, Director of umbrella group GM Freeze said: All genetic technologies can – …
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Genetic engineering needs the safety net of robust regulation GM Freeze responds to Defra plans for a high-tech free-for-all

Comment (29 Sep 2021)

Responding to the announcement that Environment Secretary George Eustice intends to push ahead with plans to remove new GM techniques (often referred to as gene editing) from the scope of GMO regulations, Liz O’Neill, Director of umbrella group GM Freeze …
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Burnt-toast GM wheat gets go-ahead Risky experimental crop to be released in an open field trial

Comment (27 Aug 2021)

Commenting on news that the Government has given the go-ahead to an open field trial of GM “low acrylamide” wheat at Rothamsted Research, GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill said: It’s hard to understand the thinking that leads GM developers to …
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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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