The Transport and Environment Committee of the Scottish Parliament has completed its
                      investigation into GM crops in Scotland and published its final report on 23 January. The
                      investigation followed a petition made to the Parliament that there should be a ban on the
                      growing of GM crops and the creation of a separate Scottish GM advisory body.

                      Written and oral evidence was taken from a number of scientific experts, regulatory bodies
                      and environmental groups as well as from Sarah Boyack, the former Minister for Transport
                      and the Environment.

                      The Scottish Executive will prepare a formal response to the issues raised by the
                      Committee in this detailed report and will publish this in due course. In summary, the main
                      findings of the Committee are as follows:

                           There are no legal powers for Scottish Ministers or the Scottish Parliament to impose
                           a moratorium on the release of GM crops.
                           The current farm scale evaluation programme has a role to play in the rightly cautious
                           approach to GM development.
                           More research is required into agricultural management and socio-economic issues,
                           which should be considered as part of environmental risk assessment. The report
                           recognises that the issues fall to be considered by the Agriculture and Environment
                           Biotechnology Commission
                           Current advisory bodies do take account of Scottish issues and would be
                           unnecessarily replicated if a separate Scottish body was established.
                           More information should be made available by companies undertaking trials to local
                           communities where GM crops are proposed for growing.
                           Written guidelines on how to handle any possible accidental release of GMOs in
                           future should be published.
                           Greater transparency in the process of Ministerial decision-making.

                      The report can be viewed in full on the Scottish Parliament web site at
                     http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/official_report/cttee/trans
 

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                            enquiries about Genetic Modification email gmoteam@scotland.gov.uk.