Farm scale evaluation of GM Crops
On 1st August 2003 details were published of the proposed arrangements made by the independent Scientific Steering Committee
(SSC) for the publication of the results of the farm-scale evaluations of GM crops and the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) on the events following publication (see Defra News Release ref:324/03). This information bulletin contains further details.
Farm scale evaluation results
The scientists who carried out the farm-scale evaluations of the three spring sown crops (maize, beet and spring oil seed rape) have written up the results as a series of scientific papers. These were submitted to the independent scientific journal The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.
The journal has now indicated to the research team that the eight scientific papers containing the results of the farm-scale evaluations have been accepted by the journal and will be published on 16th October 2003.
The eight papers accepted consider the effects of the management of the GM crops on different ecological groups such as insects and weeds. A further paper, which summarised results and presented them by crop type, was not accepted for publication.
The Scientific Steering Committee has advised ministers that they are content that the eight accepted papers contain the FSE results in full and are pleased to be able to proceed with publication (a copy of the letter is attached). The scientific steering committee has suggested that the research team should make a crop-by-crop summary available on the day of publication as an aid to interpretation.
Farm-scale evaluations results presentation arrangements
On 16th October, the Scientific Steering Committee and the research team will hold an afternoon meeting at the Royal Institution in London at which the results will be presented. This will be followed by a question and answer session. Copies of the scientific papers will be made available at the event, as will a short non-specialist summary of the results written by the research consortium and approved by the Scientific Steering Committee.
This initial meeting will be followed by a second open meeting, provisionally planned for the evening of 28th October, again at the Royal Institution. This will also be hosted by the Scientific Steering Committee and will again consist of a presentation of the results by the researchers and an opportunity to ask questions.
Anyone wishing to attend either meeting will need to apply in advance. Further details of how will be given on the FSE website in due course (www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/fse/index.htm). The events will be by invitation only and places may be limited. If demand is high preference will be given to people who have regularly corresponded about the FSEs.
For anyone not able to get to the launch meeting, the FSE results will be available from around lunchtime on the day of publication via the farm-scale evaluations website at www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/fse/index.htm. This will carry a link to the website of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society from where the main scientific report will be available. The FSE website itself will have a copy of the non-specialist summary for downloading, together with background material and links to other relevant sites. Hard copies of the results will be available by post on request from the SSC Secretariat at 3/G9, Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6DE. gm@defra.gov.uk.
On the day of publication, the Scientific Steering Committee will publish its advice to ministers, signifying the completion of the evaluations for the spring sown crops.
ACRE consideration of the implications of the results for possible commercial cultivation
Once published, the results of the farm-scale evaluations will immediately be forwarded to ACRE, the Government's statutory advisory body on the release of GMOs. ACRE will advise Government on the implications of the results for any existing or pending or future releases of GM crops.
Before ACRE members formulate their advice they will hold two open meetings at which they will take evidence from experts and stakeholders. The meetings will be held on 27th November in London and 4th December in Edinburgh.
Anyone can offer evidence for ACRE's consideration. Submissions should be in writing on not more than two-sides of A4 paper. Contributions should be limited in scope to the farm-scale evaluation results and their implications, as this, and this alone, will be considered at the open meetings.
Evidence should be submitted to the ACRE secretariat, preferably electronically, by November 16th 2003. Contact details are given below. If contributors have a preference for the London or Edinburgh meeting this should be indicated. Otherwise evidence may be selected to be heard at one or other meeting, but not both.
For anyone wishing to attend a meeting, but not give evidence, details will be given in due course on the ACRE web-site www.defra.gov.uk/environment/acre/index.htm
ACRE will evaluate the submissions after the deadline of the 16th, and then invite selected contributors to present the evidence in person. Both the number of submissions of evidence that can be heard on the two days, and the number of audience places, will be limited. However, all contributions will be considered by ACRE in their deliberations, whether invited to speak at a meeting or not. All submissions will be published on the ACRE website prior to the open meetings.
Evidence to be heard at the open meetings will be selected by ACRE members solely on the basis of the value it will make towards developing advice on the implications of the farm-scale evaluation results. Each invited contributor will be allocated 10 minutes to present their case. They will then be open to questioning by ACRE members. An opportunity for general audience questions will be held following the evidence-giving sessions.
Following the meetings ACRE will consider the evidence submitted and prepare advice to Government on the implications of the farm scale evaluations.
