UK farm ministry finds GM presence in rapeseed

     LONDON, April 12 (Reuters) - Britain's Agriculture Ministry said on
Thursday it had discovered genetically modified (GM) material in two trial 
rapeseed crops, which would be swiftly destroyed. A small quantity of imported
spring rapeseed had tested positive for a promoter that could indicate
genetic modification, and tests on a hybrid winter rapeseed variety had 
shown levels of GM presence, the ministry said in a statement.

     ``Neither of these varieties are being grown commercially in the
UK,'' it said, adding that the first crop would be destroyed by spraying 
and the other would be cut down.

     Public opinion in Britain has turned against GM foods after a
string of high-profile food scares, including mad cow disease. Many 
restaurants and shops advertise that they do no sell GM foods.

     The government's GM crop trials have been criticised by 
environmentalists, who say Britain is risking contaminating the rest 
of its countryside.