Accidental GM crop in Europe

A British company that distributes agricultural seeds in Europe has admitted genetically modified seeds were mistakenly mixed up with ordinary seeds and sent to be planted.

The company, Advanta Seeds UK Limited, says it found out only recently that it had sent batches of rape seed containing modified material from Canada to its suppliers in Britain, France, Germany and Sweden.

It's now checking whether the contaminated batches were sold anywhere else.

It said the contamination was too small to be measured, and denied any risk to public health or breaking any regulations.

In Britain, where environmental campaigners have criticised the mix-up, the agriculture minister, Nick Brown, told parliament there were gaps in international controls on genetically-modified crops.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service