MAFF has been informed that a very small quantity of seed of spring oilseed rape imported from France for trials purposes might contain antibiotic resistance to kanamycin at a level of 1 in 1000 seeds.
This might suggest that the seed has been genetically modified, but the seed has also been tested for herbicide resistance and none has been found. Kanamycin resistance is also common in soil micro-organisms and so it is possible that initial tests have simply picked up a naturally-occurring phenomenon.
Present evidence suggests that the only seed in the country is that brought in for trial purposes; none has been planted. The variety has been withdrawn from National and Recommended Lists trials, pending investigations.
Updated: 10:30 Thursday, March 22, 2001
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