GeneWatch UK is a not-for-profit group that monitors developments in genetic technologies from a public interest, environmental protection and animal welfare perspective. GeneWatch believes people should have a voice in whether or how these technologies are used and campaigns for safeguards for people, animals and the environment. We work on all aspects of genetic technologies - from GM crops and foods to genetic testing of humans.
 

> Please help us by making a donation

8th March 2006

First contamination report reveals worldwide illegal spread of genetically engineered crops

> press release

> full report

> GM Contamination register website

25th May 2006

GeneWatch UK today welcomed the decision by the Scottish Parliament to reject a proposal to allow the police to store all DNA taken on arrest permanently.

However, many people convicted of relatively minor offences in Scotland still have their DNA kept for life and that the law still fails to restrict uses of the samples or information derived from them.

> read press release

> more about the Police National DNA Database

In a Joint Statement of Concern, presented today to a House of Commons Cross Party Group, the forty-five organisations and individuals call on the Government to legislate against the use of test results in employment and insurance.

> read the briefing157KB

> read the press release

>learn about genetic testing and the GeneWatch campaign 

Today, a coalition of thirty-five international organizations including scientists, environmentalists, trade unionists, biowarfare experts and social justice advocates called for inclusive public debate, regulation and oversight of the rapidly advancing field of synthetic biology

> press release

> background briefing

The latest report and briefing from GeneWatch UK explores the new science of 'nutrigenomics' and the idea of personalised nutrition. The report and briefing explores the claims made and asks how it will affect our health.

> read the press release

> read the briefing

> read the report

> read The Herald article

GeneWatch has welcomed the decision to maintain the moratorium on Terminator seeds at the Convention on Biological Diversity meeting in Brazil. Terminator seed would be sterile and farmers would not be able to keep farm-saved seed. Efforts led by New Zealand, Australia and Canada to allow field trials of the technology assessed on a case-by-case basis have been rejected. Case-by-case assessment does not allow the overall intention of the technology to be considered.

>read press release

>read why Terminator technology cannot prevent GM contamination

>read a briefing about gene containment technologies

February 2006

2005 was a busy year for genetic technologies, from BT10 maize contamination to false reports of individualised human embryonic stem cell lines to a rapidly increasing Police National DNA Database, this briefing gives an overview of the year.

> read more