This archive includes some of the more significant news items which have previously appeared on the What's New page. Some of these web-links will be out of date now, so if you find a later link, please let us know. Some items (particularly those marked +) may be described in our Learning Links or Hot Topics pages.
Earlier Archive 2003-2006
5/1/07 Report published by Institute of Science in Society on potential hazards of GM wine yeast advises against drinking US wines.
9/1/07 + Friends of the Earth publishes analysis of the global performance of GM crops [579K] from 1996-2006, showing significant disbenefits overall. Summary available [76K].
11/1/07 It is revealed in the media that the calf of an American cloned cow has been born on a farm in Shropshire, and that no food safety assessment is required under current regulations.
14/1/07 Scientists at Roslin Institute announce the creation of a GM chicken line carrying human genes. Their eggs are said to produce human proteins, offering the prospect of mass-producing cheaper drugs to treat cancer and other diseases.
16/1/07 + ETC group of Canada publishes "Extreme Genetic Engineering" - an introductory report on 'Synthetic Biology', which involves the construction of DNA sequences that do not exist in the natural world.
22/1/07 Early Day Motion 692 calls for strict liability for environmental damage by GMOs
5/2/07 + Greenpeace presents the European Commission with a petition of one million signatures calling for mandatory labelling of food, such as milk, meat and eggs, from animals fed on GM products. Download publicity leaflet.[611K]
5/2/07 Tory environment minister Peter Ainsworth meets organic industry delegates and expresses concern over Government proposals for 0.9% GM contamination of organic food (9 times the detectable level).
2/3/07 US Dept of Agriculture (USDA) gives preliminary approval to Ventria Bioscience for commercial production of GM pharmaceutical rice containing human genes. (see 29/3/07)
13/3/07 New study published, revealing signs of toxicity of MON863 GM maize, already approved for human consumption. [139K] Greenpeace is demanding its complete withdrawal from the market.
14/3/07 Friends of the Earth and GM Freeze call on the Government to suspend trials of GM potatoes in England after a Dutch court ban, due to flaws in the environmental safety assessment. Yorkshire-based coalition has a petition against the trials, and the Mutatoes campaign is opposing both trial sites, in East Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire. (see 1/12/06)
21/3/07 Report by Center for Food Safety exposes flaws in US government risk assessment and shows that milk and meat from clones are untested and may pose health risks. (see 28/12/06)
29/3/07 USA Rice Federation submits comments to USDA on the pharma-rice application (see 2/3/07) calling "in the strongest possible terms" for the permit to be denied.
28/4/07 + Greenpeace scientists find illegal variety Herculex and significant amounts of other GM maize in "GM-free" ship's cargo imported to Europe from US.
3/5/07 European Patent Office revokes Monsanto's species-wide patent on GM soybeans - "a patent unprecedented in its broad scope" - after 13 years.
3/5/07 Federal judge bars planting of Monsanto's GM alfalfa across the US, since the government regulator did not correctly assess the cross-contamination potential.
10/5/07 GM Freeze submits complaint to European Agriculture Commissioner that the short public consultation period (until 5 June) on GM contamination of seeds will impede farmers from participating. A short guide to taking part [65K] has been prepared.
14/5/07 Government approves East Yorkshire site for GM potato trials, but BASF is not going to plant there this year due to concerns of local borage growers. (See 14/3/07)
8/6/07 + Report by GM Freeze analyses the rising risks of GM contamination of UK imports (by origin) and concludes this is most likely from maize and rice. The special hazards of crops grown to produce pharmaceuticals are outlined. Substantially improved controls are suggested.
12/6/07 EU ministers decide to allow 'accidental' GM contamination of up to 0.9 percent in organic food before labelling is required.
13/6/07 New Dublin government agrees a policy to negotiate for the whole of Ireland to become GM free.
14/6/07 Study by French research institute of tests on Monsanto GM maize NK603 (approved for human consumption) reveals what "could be warning signs of toxicity". Greenpeace demands its withdrawal and a regulatory review. (cf. 13/3/07)
14/6/07 Results of 5 year research project reveal that large parts of human DNA previously thought inactive - such as 'junk DNA' - are in fact highly active.
6/7/07 Activists destroy trial crop of BASF GM potatoes just outside Cambridge. (See 14/5/07)
10/7/07 New findings by University of Michigan "refute the long-standing claim that organic farming methods cannot produce enough food to feed the global population."
17/7/07 + The new Scottish Government confirms that it will maintain a moratorium on the planting of GM crops in Scotland.
25/7/07 Food Standards Agency opens public consultation (until 17 Oct) on methodology for sampling food and feed for GM material - criticised by GM Freeze for ignoring latest research.
27/7/07 US study shows a GM virus used in human gene therapy trials causes liver cancer in mice.
9/8/07 GM Free Ireland accuses Canadian Government of a covert campaign against Ireland's policy to become GM free. (see 13/6/07)
6/9/07 Survey by Trading Standards officers in Yorkshire reveals one in four caterers using GM cooking oils illegally by not informing customers (as required by law).
10/9/07 + UN report suggests a worldwide shift to organic agriculture could combat world hunger and climate change.
16/9/07 Government statement contradicts earlier press report that ministers were backing a campaign to introduce GM crops to the UK.
24/9/07 Irish City of Cork declares itself a GMO-free zone, with the release of GM seeds and crops prohibited.
21/10/07 Land activists in Brazil shot by militia linked to biotech multinational. Friends of the Earth expresses concern over involvement of Swiss firm Syngenta [39K].
26/10/07 President Sarkozy announces France will suspend planting of GM insect-resistant crops while a new authority investigates.
28/10/07 Investigation by 'The Independent' reveals the UK government provides disproportionately large funding for GM agriculture and gave preferential treatment in approving GM potato trials. Friends of the Earth report [511K] provides further detail and calls for Government action.
30/10/07 Early results of four year EU study show organic food has substantial nutritional benefits relative to non-organic.
31/10/07 + Ground-breaking report by FoE Europe analyses the relationship between the biotech industry and the European Commission [610K], particularly the power of the corporate lobby.
6/11/07 Early Day Motion 15 calls for a GM food labelling threshold of 0.1% (0.9% now) and a ban on commercial GM planting until issues of safety, liability and segregation are resolved.
6/11/07 Early Day Motion 82 notes public concern over GM cross-contamination and calls for protection under the Environmental Liability Directive.
8/11/07 + DEFRA publishes results of public consultation on 'coexistence' of GM and conventional crops, showing 95 per cent of 11,000 respondents oppose Government plans. Soil Association calls for much tighter controls.
13/11/07 A petition signed by over three million Italians calls for a ban on all GM foods in Italy.
20/11/07 + Researchers claim to be able now to create versatile human stem cells from ordinary body cells. These 'induced pluripotent stem cells' could potentially avoid the problems of other techniques that involve cloning.
25/11/07 Environment Minister announces Scottish Government will back a bid by European Commissioner Dimas to block the cultivation of two types of GM maize. More on Dimas proposal
26/11/07 Early Day Motion 383 notes the concerns over GM animal feed, and calls for better labelling to allow consumers to choose GM-free animal products.
28/11/07 Early Day Motion 425 expresses concern at misrepresentation of research on potential GM problems.
11/1/08 The European Food Safety Authority drafts opinion that milk and meat from cloned animals should be allowed to be sold since "it is very unlikely that any difference exists in terms of food safety ... compared with conventionally bred animals." This is now open to public consultation - closed on 25 February 2008.
11/1/08 The University of Leeds is seeking permission to plant GM potatoes, engineered with a synthetic (non-organic) gene to resist cyst-nematodes (eelworms), on a farm near Tadcaster. The public can submit comments to DEFRA on risks until 3 March 2008. GM Freeze provides a briefing setting out grounds for objection. [136K]
15/1/08 + Scottish Government launches "National Food Discussion" by publishing a discussion paper and opening a public consultation on all aspects of the food chain. (See 'Hot Topics')
13/2/08 New report shows GM crops have led to greater use of pesticides and do not have increased yields, as claimed.
14/2/08 + The European Commission has decided on "emergency measures" to stop unauthorised Bt63 GM rice from China entering the food supply.
6/3/08 Two calves of a cloned cow which were to be auctioned in Bristol are now expected to be sold privately.
26/3/08 Food Standards Agency confirms that Chinese rice contaminated with the illegal GM variety Bt63 is unsafe for human consumption, and issues recall order. (see 8/6/07, 14/2/08)
2/4/08 Swedish research shows GM oilseed rape seeds survive in soil for at least 10 years, despite best efforts to remove them. (see also 22/9/05)
2/4/08 + Scientists at Newcastle University claim to have created Britain's first human-animal hybrid embryos, intended for stem cell research. The embryos were formed by substituting the nucleus of a human cell for the nucleus in a cow's ovum (egg). (see also 20/11/07 and 'Human GE')
7/4/08 Norfolk Trading Standards warns caterers that they face six months in jail and fines up to £5,000 if they fail to inform customers when products contain GM ingredients. Spot checks revealed 42 per cent of outlets surveyed were breaking the law. (see also 6/9/07)
10/4/08 Research analysis shows yields from all major GM crops are no greater than from non-GM varieties. (See 13/2/08)
15/4/08 International report by over 400 scientists urges radical changes in food production, and is sceptical about the potential of GM to avert shortages and environmental problems. Full report.
24/4/08 Debenhams chain announces ban on "unhealthy ingredients", including GM food, in its restaurants.
6/5/08 Earth First! protestors shut down UK headquarters of BASF to focus attention on its forthcoming GM potato trial. (See 6/7/07 etc)
10/5/08 Leeds University gets permission to grow GM potatoes in open field test site. (See 11/1/08) Consent document. [129K]
11/5/08 + After learning that the first GM human embryo has been created in the US, Human Genetics Alert calls on the UK Government to halt its plans to legalise this. An international group also calls for a world-wide moratorium.
13/5/08 Report from Canada reveals that the major agribusiness corporations are claiming patents on genes relevant to climate change adaptation.
29/5/08 Swiss Government extends its moratorium on commercial growing of GM plants for another three years, until 2013, to allow completion of essential research.
5/6/08 GM potato trial near Tadcaster is destroyed by anonymous objectors. (See 10/5/08)
6/6/08 Daily Mail reveals six more calves have been born in the UK from the embryos of a cloned US cow. At present no regulations apply to the consumption of their milk or meat. (See 11/1/07, 21/3/07, 6/3/08.)
19/6/08 Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead, announces new measures following analysis of Scottish Food Discussion. (See 15/1/08 and 'Hot Topics'.) Some of these potentially relate to GM and the Scottish Government still maintains a moratorium on growing GM crops.
23/6/08 The government agency Natural England warns Prime Minister Gordon Brown against using GM crops to offset rising food prices.
23/6/08 Environmental coalition warns governments not to fall for the current "biotech industry propaganda" on the rising costs of food and animal feed. The industry is keen to remove the EU's 'zero tolerance' rule on unauthorised GM products. The National Farmers Union too is attempting to influence supermarkets' policies. (See above, 23/6/08)
7/7/08 UK Cabinet Office report on food strategy for the 21st century published, and criticised as "seriously lacking in-depth analysis" on GM crops and their impacts.
16/7/08 Food Standards Agency publishes list of Chinese rice products contaminated with the unauthorised GM variety Bt63. (See 26/3/08)
25/7/08 Austria bans the import of Monsanto's GM maize MON863 on health and safety grounds.
28/7/08 A group of scientists involved in GM testing call for location of test sites to be kept secret.
9/8/08 Scientists at the University of Southampton have asked the Forestry Commission for permission to plant GM trees.
13/8/08 The Prince of Wales expresses concern about industrial farming and genetic engineering. John Vidal has analysed the Prince's grounds for concern. Scottish Environment Minister also backs the Prince (later).
5/9/08 The two Irish governments confirm plans for a GM free Ireland.
7/9/08 The Labour peer, Lord Winston, is to start breeding GM pigs to supply organs for human transplants.
8/9/08 European Commission authorises the import of Bayer's GM soybean A2704-12 for use in food and feed.
9/9/08 A new association of Brazilian producers are to guarantee a supply of GM free soy products for Europe.
12/9/08 Scottish Government orders destruction of oilseed rape plants and seeds, undergoing a quality trial, found to be contaminated with unauthorised GM material. Scottish Ministers subsequently call on the UK Government to end its support for GM crops.
27/9/08 A Bill is passed in California to offer farmers legal protection from lawsuits arising from GM contamination of their land.
6/10/08 The Union of Concerned Scientists denounces the proposed USDA rules that would not protect the food supply from drug contamination by GM 'pharma' crops.
9/10/08 New survey of European consumers shows a majority against farming cloned animals and their offspring for food. (see 6/6/08)
22/10/08 UN study shows organic farming offers the best chance of tackling poverty and malnutrition in Africa.
16/11/08 Italian government study shows significant disturbances in the immune system of mice fed on GM maize (MON810).
17/11/08 The UK government is said to be preparing plans for secret GM crop trials. This would contravene European law.
4/12/08 Meeting of EU environment ministers calls for significant improvements in assessing GMO impacts. But efforts by the UK government to block new safeguards (against GM contamination of seeds) appear to have fudged the issue. Read the Minutes of meeting [160K].
16/12/08 A survey carried out by GM Freeze shows the UK food industry is not adequately addressing consumers' concerns over cloned farm animals. (See 9/10/08)
13/1/09 Glufosinate herbicide ('Liberty'[tm]) ban approved by European Parliament. But UK agri-lobby disapproves.
11/2/09 Industry-sponsored data on GM cultivation worldwide are criticised as "inflated and massaged". ISAAA myths.
17/2/09 Scientists condemn tests of GM 'Golden Rice' on children as breaching Nuremberg ethics code.
17/2/09 European Court of Justice rules that under Directive 2001/18/EC key information on deliberate GMO releases, such as location, must not be withheld from the public. (See 17/11/08)
24/2/09 Welsh Assembly Government minister announces plans for tough 'GM coexistence' regulations in Wales.
2/3/09 Bans by Austria and Hungary on certain types of GM maize (Monsanto's MON810 and Bayer's T25) are upheld by EU environment ministers. The UK minister, Hilary Benn, votes to lift the ban - see FoE analysis. (See also 25/7/08)
25/3/09 European Parliament approves first stage of a new Regulation on Novel Foods, to include labelling of food from animals fed on GM feed; and calls for a ban on food products from cloned animals. See draft of Regulation.
1/4/09 + Scottish Parliament debate supports conventional plant breeding while setting out extensive arguments against GM crops.
3/4/09 French National Consumer Council (CNC) supports the use of a label "Fed without GMOs" (Nourri sans OGM) for animal products. More references here.
14/4/09 Germany bans cultivation of MON810 GM maize (corn) amid environmental and economic concerns. (See 2/3/09 etc)
15/4/09 Genetic fingerprinting pioneer Prof Sir Alec Jeffreys criticises UK Government for retaining DNA records on thousands of innocent people.
24/4/09 At a European conference of GM free regions, Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham re-affirms and explains the Scottish Government's opposition to GM crops.
18/5/09 Irish health officials have destroyed unauthorised Bt63 GM rice imports from China. (See 16/7/08)
24/6/09 New Scottish Environmental Liability Regulations come into force, implementing the principle that "polluter pays" for damage caused. Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham points out that our laws on GM contamination are now significantly stronger than those in England.
26/6/09 Scottish Government publishes "Recipe for Success" a new Food and Drink Policy for Scotland, but GM is not mentioned. See 'Hot Topics'.
20/7/09 Report by GM Freeze criticises over-emphasis by UK Government on GM technology for poorer countries and for pledging £140 million of DFID support.
27/7/09 It is revealed that a trial of GM potatoes near Tadcaster, Yorkshire, has been surreptitiously restarted. (See 5/6/08)
28/7/09 Launch of petition opposing approval of GM carnations in Europe.
8/9/09 Canadian flax (linseed) exports to Europe found to be contaminated with an illegal GM variety FP967 known as Triffid, barred from sale in 2001.
16/9/09 UK Food Standards Agency sets up an "independent" group to advise them in discussing GM with consumers. (See 23/9/09, 13/8/09 etc)
23/9/09 Following earlier letters of concern, GM Freeze again criticises the Food Standards Agency for failing to alert the UK on the flax contamination, now believed to affect ten EU countries. (See 8/9/09)
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