The Department of Agriculture, Western Australia today announced that sites used for disease resistance trials at two Department Research Stations would be managed in line with GM trial protocols.

“Two breeding lines used in the disease resistance trials are the same as those used in National Variety Trials that has been found may have trace levels of up to 0.04 (zero point zero four) per cent of GM material,” Biosecurity and Research Director Rob Delane said.

The small trial plots have been removed as a risk reduction measure without significant loss of trial data.

The trials pose no risk to the non-GM status of Western Australia’s canola crop. The trace detections are below 0.05 (zero point zero five) per cent. Harvested seed from the trials will be destroyed once normal tests are completed. The strictest restrictions in the world are applied by the European Union at 0.9 (zero point nine) per cent.