Seed Monitoring Programme

Background

In Europe, GM seeds cannot be sold unless their GM events have been approved either under the EU Deliberate Release Directive, 2001/18/EC or the EU Regulation on Genetically Modified Food and Feed, 1829/2003. It is important that all importers, producers, processors and merchants of non-GM (conventionally bred) seed take all reasonable steps to ensure, before obtaining or marketing such seed, that there is no adventitious presence of unapproved GM material.

The GM Inspectorate considers seed of some conventionally bred crop species to be at a higher risk, relative to other crops, from incorporation of adventitious GM material during seed production. As far as Scottish Agriculture is concerned, the GM Inspectorate considers, that winter and spring oilseed rape & related species, and fodder maize & sweet corn, fall into this high risk category. The risk status of all crop species listed above is regularly reviewed.

Anyone considering marketing conventional seed of any of these high risk crops in Scotland is advised to obtain assurances provided via appropriately worded letters from their suppliers, or acquire other evidence, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test data for the seed lots in question. Letters of assurance covering seed originating in England should state that the seed is produced according to the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) GM Inspectorate?s Guidance for importers and producers on the prevention of adventitious GM presence in conventional varieties of the relevant crops.

The Scottish Seed Monitoring Programme

The GM Inspectorate undertakes a voluntary monitoring programme of Scottish merchants, processors and packers (MPP) to assist them in meeting the above duties. The Seed Monitoring Programme consists of a questionnaire that is sent out to all MPPs biannually, which is then followed by further enquiries if a notification of importation is declared.

It is important to note that participation in the monitoring programme should not be seen as an assurance that the GM Inspectorate will not exercise its powers in appropriate cases under Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Questionnaires ? The purpose of the questionnaire is determine whether seed of these species has been imported directly into Scotland. Questionnaires can be returned by email or post. The address for email returns is:  GMInspectorate@sasa.gsi.gov.uk.  Postal returns should be sent to SASA GM Inspectorate, SASA, Roddinglaw Road, Edinburgh, EH12 9FJ.

Only in cases where a notification of importation is declared will further enquiries be made by the GM Inspectorate so that importers can be invited to demonstrate compliance with the Directive 2001/18/EC. This may lead, on a case-by-case basis, to an audit and if necessary inspection of the imported seed.

A summary of the biannual surveys and any resulting follow-up action is published annually in the SASA GM Inspectorate?s Annual Report .