BRISTOL, ENGLAND. The British government has strict regulations governing experiments involving genetic modifications of plants. These regulations are in place to ensure that genetically-engineered plants do not "escape" from their test plots and interbreed with neighbouring natural plants. A report recently released by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) makes clear that the regulations are often broken. Monsanto, AgrEvo of Frankfurt, Germany, Plant Genetic Systems of Ghent, Belgium and Nickerson Biocem of Cambridge, England are among the companies who broke the rules by failing to provide the specified buffer zone between the engineered plants and the natural flora surrounding the test plot. At present ACRE has given permission for 139 plant gene experiments, but only 28 of these have actually been checked by inspectors and six have been found to have broken the rules. Asks Sue Mayer of Gene Watch "Is it the tip of the iceberg"?
Coghlan, Andy. Named and shamed. New Scientist, April 4, 1998, p. 4