Detailed guide: GM Inspectorate: seed audit programme

Introduction

In line with Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, no genetically modified (GM) seeds may be imported to and / or marketed in the UK for commercial purposes without authorisation.

Companies importing or producing conventional seed in the UK must ensure appropriate controls are in place to minimise the risk of adventitious GM presence (AGMP) in the seed.

Seed audit programme

The GM Inspectorate seed audit programme is designed to help companies comply with the rules on GMOs in seed and ensure the action they take is correctly documented. The audits include seed that is to be marketed for commercial production and seed to be used for trial purposes.

The audits are carried out on behalf of Defra and participation is voluntary.

Guidance

These documents provide further information on the audit programme and explain the information that seed producers, importers and suppliers should obtain when seeking to ensure freedom from unauthorised GM presence.

A GM Inspector will check this information during an audit.

The guidance is annually updated before the audit programme begins.

• 
  Guidance for seed companies
  (PDF, 367KB, 8 pages)
  

• 
  Detailed audit questionnaire
  (PDF, 118KB, 18 pages)
  

• 
  Basic audit data gathering template
  (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 528KB)
  

• 
  Gathering of basic data and detailed audit visits
  (PDF, 58.8KB, 1 page)
  

Audit summary reports

After a seed audit is completed, a detailed report is submitted to Defra showing the names of varieties imported and/or produced by the company and the assurances provided by the seed company for each seed lot or batch. A summary of these audit reports are published.

• 
  Recent GMI seed audit summary reports
  (PDF, 393KB, 28 pages)
  

Previous reports are available on the archived GM Inspectorate web pages.

Contact

For further information on the timing of seed audits or the seed audit programme, contact a member of the GM Inspectorate.

Contact the GMI if you have concerns or information about unauthorised GMOs that you believe may have been released in England or Wales.

Email: gm-inspec@apha.gsi.gov.uk

For information on GM services in Scotland, contact the SASA GM Inspectorate.

Further information

• Seed monitoring news
• GM test matrices
• EU Directive 2001/18/EC
• Archived GM Inspectorate website