Defra issue correction and apology regarding inaccurate response to a Parliamentary Question

Victoria Prentis, Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has replied to our letter of 20 August 2021 regarding an incorrect claim made by a Member of Parliament that organic growers use 'illicit' seed.

In the letter Minister Prentis writes, "Defra accepts that Lord Gardiner made an error when answering the Parliamentary Question, as his answer did not reflect the full picture of organic farmers using non-organic seed under specific permissible conditions. The Parliamentary Question answer has now been rectified through a Written Ministerial Statement, which was published on 19 October."

In the letter the minister apologises "for any negative impacts which this inaccuracy may have had on organic stakeholders. Defra remains fully committed to supporting the UK organics sector and we hope this letter has gone some way towards alleviating your concerns."

A copy of the letter, addressed to us via our Agricultural PR & Communications Agency, Pinstone,

is available for download.

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Response to APPG chair calling for review of ‘illicit’ seed use by organic growers