ACRE Advice

9 August 2000

GM Oil Seed Rape and Cross-Pollination with Adjacent Crops

Introduction

MAFF recently commissioned a report on separation distances and GM crops from the National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB).

It shows that about 8% of the rape grown in the UK is a type known as 'varietal association or partially restored hybrids' (these are conventionally bred not GM). These varieties, contain about 80% male sterile plants (i.e. plants which produce no pollen but capable of producing seed) which the author claims are more susceptible to cross pollination than other oilseed varieties. The report suggests that although it cannot be reliably quantified, to achieve less than 1% cross pollination between these crops a separation distance of 100 metres is appropriate.

ACRE was asked to consider this report and, to advise whether it raises any new information not previously taken into account when ACRE has reviewed applications for consent to release genetically modified oilseed rape.

The key issues addressed by ACRE was whether the committee had taken into account (1) the levels of cross-pollination reported during their safety evaluations of previous applications, (2) whether this information represented a significant departure from expectation and, (3) if so, whether their advice on the safety of oilseed rape releases should be altered in light of this.

ACRE's advice:

ACRE welcomes this carefully compiled report on separation distances which provides a detailed description of the strengths and weaknesses of the various types of data available for assessing rates of cross pollination. ACRE noted that this was a draft report and that a large amount of the information, in particular the recommendations relating to separation distances for variety association hybrids have yet to be peer reviewed. Not withstanding these points, the committee took the precautionary approach of assuming that the report's conclusions were representative, and advised on this basis.

ACRE's view is that these levels of cross pollination do not represent a significant departure from expectation and, that the safety advice previously offered for the oilseed rape farmscale evaluations and previous experimental releases is unaffected by this report. If the consequences of gene exchange via cross-pollination to neighboring crops or to wild relatives were harmful the committee would not advise that a consent could be issued.