Defra denies secret GM trials

The move comes after reports today (Monday, November 17), that ministers are planning to change policy to prevent anti-GM campaigners from vandalising field trials.

Although the Government has signalled its intent to carry out more trials on GM crops, it denied that any new policies had already been put in place.

Secretary of State Hilary Benn and former Food and Farming Minister Lord Rooker both called for greater protection for trials earlier this year, but a Defra spokesperson said the department was unable to change the rules without a green light from Europe where law demands details of all GM trials be made publicly available.

A Defra spokesperson said: “The Government has always maintained that human and environmental health are paramount, but the destruction and vandalism of GM crop trials risks withholding potential benefits to agriculture while simultaneously harming the UK’s science base.

“The Government is therefore taking stock of the situation, but no announcements have been made on a change in policy.”

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