Research and analysis

Genetically Modified Organisms release: herpes virus of Turkey and avian influenza virus (25/R58/01)

Inviting representations on an application from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to release a genetically modified organism. Reference 25/R58/01.

From:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency
Published
30 December 2025

Documents

Part A1-A6: Vaxxitek application form

PDF, 301 KB, 22 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Part B: information about the release application to be included on the public register

PDF, 119 KB, 2 pages

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If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

Defra and APHA have applied to Defra for consent to perform a deliberate release of genetically modified herpes virus of Turkey and avian influenza virus vaccine for veterinary clinical research and development purposes.

We invite representations on any risks of damage being caused to the environment by the release applied for in this application reference 25/R58/01. You can make representation either by:

  • writing to the GM Team, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Second Floor, Seacole Building, Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF, stating the application reference number
  • emailing gm-regulation@defra.gov.uk (please include the application reference number in the email title)

Representations will need to be received by 16 February 2026. Any representations made after this date will not be considered.

Using and sharing your information

Our research privacy notice explains how we use your personal information.

The following changes apply when you make a representation:

Additional personal data we collect and how it is used

When you make a representation Defra collect and use the content of your letter. We use this additional personal data to fulfil a statutory requirement to consider representations made relating to any risks of damage to the environment of a proposed release of a genetically modified organism. 

You can withdraw your consent up to 28 days following a decision being made on the application. You can do this by contacting us at  gm-regulation@defra.gov.uk.

After this date, we will have anonymised and combined your data with other survey data and will be unable to extract it. 

How long Defra holds personal data

Defra will keep your personal data for either 3 years after the end of the statutory consideration period for the GMO release application or until the end of the release, whichever is longer.

Updates to this page

Published 30 December 2025

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