Find below: Recent Developments ... Hot Topics ... Local Interest ... Website changes
Recent Developments (selected)
For more on Recent Developments, refer to Learning Links and LABB News Archive
For breaking news: GM Watch or GENET.
18/11/05 Australian scientists find GM peas cause inflammation in lungs of mice. More details here.
1/8/07 Walls / Unilever now have permission to use a genetically engineered protein in low-calorie ice cream. (see Archive 24/6/06)
11/11/08 Austrian government study shows the fertility of mice is impaired by the consumption of GM maize (NK603xMON810). Dr Mae Wan Ho explains the research.
11/12/09 French study of rats fed on GM corn varieties MON810, MON863 and NK603 reveals signs of toxicity to kidney and liver. These GM varieties are currently approved for consumption. (See Archive 14/6/07, 3/11/09 etc)
16/4/10 Russian scientists report reproductive problems in hamsters fed on GM soya beans.
18/5/10 France announces it is to authorise a GM vineyard in Alsace.
9/12/10 Avaaz/Greenpeace petition of over a million signatures is presented to the European Commission calling on it to halt GM crop approvals and set up a new independent regulatory body. (See Archive 28/9/10)
20/5/11 Following the discovery of a Bt toxin from GM crops in pregnant women and foetuses, GM Freeze calls for an immediate halt to cultivation and imports of Bt crops.
22/7/11 Report by the Academy of Medical Sciences calls for additional scrutiny and regulation of the use of animals containing human material in medical research.
23/7/11 Protestors gather at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, demonstrating against field trials of blight-resistant GM potatoes. (See Archive 11/2/10)
29/7/11 Research at Iowa State University into severe crop damage shows that the Western Corn Rootworm has evolved resistance to a toxin in GM Bt maize. (See also Archive 8/2/08)
7/8/11 Trials of GM rice containing human genes have been stopped in Spain, following mass public protests.
29/9/11 + A detailed report by international NGOs documents how GM crops failed to produce the benefits claimed, and have in fact created significant problems.
5/10/11 US research study shows escapes of GM canola (oilseed rape) are widespread and survive successfully in the wild.
13/10/11 A Mexican research study has found a significant spread of GM cotton genes in wild cotton populations.
19/10/11 Briefing on new 'superweeds' reports 21 weed species have now developed resistance to glyphosate herbicide, the main constituent of Roundup™.
10/11/11 Review of insect resistance to Bt toxins in GM crops shows pesticide use has actually increased.
15/11/11 The European Union imposes rigid new controls on imports of Chinese rice products, after rising GM contamination. (See Archive 18/5/09)
9/12/11 Summary of Argentine research shows serious risks to human and animal health posed by glyphosate, the herbicide sprayed (as Roundup™) on GM crops. (See Archive 29/4/11, 7/6/11, 20/11/11)
13/12/11 EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) admits that an insect-resistant GM maize threatens non-target insects and butterflies, but has approved its cultivation regardless.
3/1/12 Media reports suggest Sainsbury's brand director is in favour of GM in farming.
10/1/12 Article by US scientist makes the connection between GM Bt (pesticidal) corn and neonicotinoid seed treatments now being associated with bee population collapse.
12/1/12 A confidential company document shows the offspring of GM mosquitoes described as "sterile" have a significant survival rate in the presence of common antibiotic pollution. Despite this, millions of these potential disease carriers were released experimentally in the Cayman Islands, Malaysia and Brazil, while GM moths are now proposed for the UK.
13/1/12 French government announces its intention to continue its ban on cultivating GM maize MON810, despite two court rulings.
2/2/12 Following the creation of a genetically engineered form of bird flu virus that is much more infectious, experts call for permanent restrictions on research.
8/2/12 An application by Monsanto to raise permitted residue levels of glyphosate weedkiller by 100-150 times in lentils is condemned by GM Freeze on safety grounds. (See 9/12/11)
15/2/12 European research shows Bt toxins and glyphosate residues, common in GM plants, can have a toxic effect on human cells.
15/2/12 Swiss research confirms earlier findings that a toxin in GM Bt maize increases mortality in ladybird larvae. The research also exposes shortcomings in methodology of a concerted attempt to discredit their earlier findings.
24/2/12 US judge dismisses a lawsuit, brought by organic farmers and others, seeking protection against Monsanto lawsuits that claim patent infringement.
1/3/12 GM Freeze launches a new campaign "GM Wheat No Thanks" opposing field trials now permitted in Hertfordshire. (See Archive 16/9/11)
12/3/12 "Let's Liberate Diversity", the European farming conference, firmly rejects GMOs [113K] and welcomes the Scottish Government's ongoing opposition to GM food and feed. Delegates to the conference, hosted this year by the Scottish Crofting Federation, outlined the threats posed by GMOs to biodiversity and farmers' rights.
21/3/12 A complaint is filed with the European Ombudsman, questioning the independence of the chairman of the GM risk assessment panel of the European Food Safety Authority. (See also Archive 11/4/11)
22/3/12 Morrisons supermarket has authorised the use of GM feed by its poultry farmers - a significant policy switch. GM Watch offers more information on Morrisons' use of "sustainable soy", plus suggestions for consumer action.
Hot Topics
The 'Hot Topics' section provides brief introductions to some important aspects of GM at the present time. If you have further suggestions for suitable topics, please let us know.
DNA & Genes Breeding v GM Coexistence GM & Environment Gene Escape
GM Food GM Food Safety Tests GM animal feed Biofuels Scotland's Food & Drink Policy
Cloning of Animals
Of Interest in Lothians locality
Of major concern at present is the predominance of products from animals fed on GM feed. These products, such as meat, poultry, eggs and milk, are not required to be labelled as GM. Progress by the major supermarkets to remove GM feed from their supply lines has been slow and patchy, Asda appears to have reversed its policy again, and {NEW} Morrisons is now allowing GM feed to poultry. (22/3/12 above) Customers need to keep up their pressure on supermarkets says GM Freeze, which offers an up to date guide to the issues and a sample letter. GM Watch also has a guide to the issues and an earlier list of supermarkets that were sourcing products from animals not fed on GM material. (See also Archive 25/10/10, with related links) Any letter to a supermarket could also mention the new hazard of Bt toxin (20/5/11 above) - see 'Things to do'.
Meat from the offspring of cloned cows has gone into the UK food supply chain - this was initially deemed to be illegal, but now the Food Standards Agency has performed a U-turn and meat and milk from the offspring of cloned animals is not even to be labelled. (See 'Hot Topics: Cloning of Animals') The Soil Association, a regulator of organic farming, has published a guide to cloning issues - such as food safety and animal cruelty - explaining how to write to your MP, objecting to the practice. There is also an online petition you can sign - see 'Things to Do'. You may also want to raise the issue with your butcher, who may not be aware of the problems of cloning.
It is unwise to rely on the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to alert you promptly to contamination of the food supply by illegal GM content. There is ample evidence on this website, going back as far as 2005, that the FSA has been very lax in this respect - refer to Archive, particularly 5/11/09. Further evidence of the pro-GM bias of the FSA was exposed by the recent resignations from the 'GM Dialogue' committee (Archive 2/6/10). Since the FSA was appointed by government to safeguard consumer interests and is financed by the taxpayer you may wish to raise these issues with your MP or MSP.
There is also a small number of labelled GM products, on sale now in supermarkets. These may not be immediately obvious to the average shopper, and GM Freeze is keen to get reports on where they are being sold, and keep its list up to date.
Finally, anyone who eats in a cafe, or other food outlet, could quite possibly be consuming GM material unknowingly, since the management may not be aware of the labelling laws. A new action guide is now available: "What's in your chips?"
To find out more about these issues, and what action you can take, please refer to Things to Do
Changes to this website
11/2/12 Updated Recent Developments. New Learning Link here.
28/3/12 Updated Recent Developments and Local Interest, tidied 'Hot Topic: Coexistence'. Added 4 Things to Do.
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