All the environmental effects of GM crops need to be reviewed in the highest possible detail over a lengthy period. You mention the rhododendron in the text as an example but this is a plant that has not been tampered with on a genetic level. The potential environmental (not to mention health) risk is massive and the bottom line is that no one can say with any scientific certainty at the moment that it won't have an adverse environmental effect in the medium to long term.

So why take the risk of not carrying out full testing? There is no reason I can see for not conducting extensive examination and there is every reason to do it. It may take some years to complete the testing necessary, as the long term effects need to be reviewed.

A core question that doesn't seem to be addressed is do we really need GM food? There is certainly no appetite for it (pardon the pun) amongst the british public. The touted benefits of GM crops are well known but is UK agriculture in such a bad way that it is not sustainable without it?

I am also concerned that the implementation of GM crops will be forced through as a result of political pressure from the US and Canada. This is a trade export issue for them but for us it is our health and environment we are concerned about. This not the time for political games. Once the genie is out of the bottle it will be too late.