Our Proposals

In consultation with organisations representing all sectors of the UK farming and food supply chain, SCIMAC has developed framework proposals to address – through existing industry systems - the UK Government’s stated policy objectives on GM crop co-existence and liability. The six-point plan is summarised in the table below:

Action	Description	Delivery
1. Code of Practice	Practical guidelines for growing and handling GM crops	Updated version of existing SCIMAC Code of Practice and on-farm guidelines
2. Compliance	Measures requiring GM growers to observe guidelines	Incorporation of SCIMAC protocols into existing farm assurance schemes
3. Audit	Independent verification of GM growers’ compliance	Annual on-farm inspection by independently accredited (EN45011) auditors
4. Oversight	Independent / Government monitoring of co-existence in practice	GM Inspectorate / Rural Payments Agency/Other
5. Co-responsibility	Mechanism(s) to ensure co-operation between neighbouring growers	Separation distance and notification arrangements given statutory backing through secondary legislation
6. Redress	Mechanism(s) to restore the marketing position of non-GM farmers whose produce exceeds the 0.9% GM labelling threshold through no fault of their own	SCIMAC Redress Charter, delivered through conditions attached to existing seed licensing, farm assurance and contractual arrangements

Click on each action point for further details.