Genetically Modified Organisms

John Penrose
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Government considers minimum safe crop separation distance to prevent cross-pollination between GM and non-GM plants and crops by (a) insects and (b) wind.

Ian Pearson
Genetically modified (GM) crops will not be grown unless they pass a rigorous case-by-case assessment of their potential impact on human health and the environment. This means that separation distances are unnecessary for safety reasons, although they are still applied, on a precaution basis, in the context of GM trials.

Separation distances should be based on the relevant evidence on cross-pollination for each crop species in question, which will reflect whether the crop is largely insect-pollinated or wind-pollinated. The science indicates that most cross-pollination takes place at relatively short distances. However, it can occur infrequently over very long distances, depending on insect movements and the prevailing weather conditions.

Based on a report by the National Institute of Agricultural Botany, proposed separation distances for maize and oilseed rape were included in our consultation paper on the co-existence of GM and non-GM crops. This is available at:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/gmnongm-coexist/index/htm