Canberra, Australia
November 27, 2007
USDA/FAS GAIN Report Number:
AS7071
http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200711/146293102.pdf
Report highlights
The Victorian and New South
Wales governments both announced on November 27 that they
will lift their four-year moratoria on genetically-modified
(GM) canola. Both states said the move will put famers on a
level playing field with overseas farmers such as in Canada
and the United States, and noted that more than 22 countries
and 10 million farmers around the world grow GM crops.
Moratoria remain in place in Tasmania, Western Australia,
South Australia (currently under review) and the Australian
Capital Territory.
The Victorian and New South Wales
governments both announced on November 27 that they will lift
their four-year moratoria on genetically-modified (GM) canola.
Both states said the move will put famers on a level playing
field with overseas farmers such as in Canada and the United
States, and noted that more than 22 countries and 10 million
farmers around the world grow GM crops.
Both states cited reports which contributed to the decision to
lift the moratoria. In New South Wales, Primary Industries
Minister Ian McDonald announced that the action followed a
comprehensive review by a three-member panel chaired by former
Nationals leader Ian Armstrong. Similarly, the Victorian Premier
John Brumby, announced that the state government had accepted
the finding of a report led by Victoria’s Chief Scientist Sir
Gustav Nossal investigating the economic impact of GM canola.
Both panels reviewed more than 1200 submissions in making their
recommendations.
Both states acknowledged the role of the Office of the Gene
Technology Regulator (OGTR) in assessing that GM canola is as
safe for humans and the environment. Both states noted that
strict labeling laws are in place and the industry is capable of
segregation. In addition, the environmental benefits of GM crops
were cited. In both states GM canola will be available for the
2008 planting season. (Sources: NSW Department of Agriculture
Media Release, 11/27/2007; Media Release from the Office of the
Premier of Victoria, 11/27/2007)
National Farmers Federation Supports the Action
In a November 27 media release National Farmers’ Federation
(NFF) President, David Crombie supported the action and urged
other state governments to follow NSW and Victoria’s lead and
lift their “out-dated moratoria”. “As these states illustrate,
Australian agriculture has the ability to meet customer demands,
rendering such bans unnecessary and denying farmers’ legitimate
choices,” said Mr. Crombie.
Mr. Crombie observed, “NSW AND Victorian farmers can now
capitalize on the opportunities gene technology poses for
agricultural production – finally able to develop more
environmentally-sustainable, drought-resistant and better
yielding crops. This will make farmers more efficient and
competitive on the world stage. For too long, Australian farmers
have been left behind as the international marketplace embraced
biotechnology as a safe
and viable agricultural science. In the past we all – including
the NFF – had adopted a prudent ‘wait and see’ policy while this
science was in its infancy. The science, now well established,
has seen the world move on and we must do likewise. Today’s
announcements allow us to ‘catch up’ and win a greater share of
world markets, opportunities that, while the moratoria remained,
passed Australian farmers by.”
Mr. Crombie noted, “Farmers must have the opportunity to pursue
production methods best suited to their customers’ needs – be
that GM, conventional, organic or any combination of these.
These are points of differentiation farmers pursue in meeting
their customers’ desires. “The marketplace – both here and
overseas – is crying out for GM crops. Australian farmers will
now be in a position to use sensible, scientifically-proven and
time-tested methods of production. The NFF maintains that the
production decisions of one farmer, or groups of
farmers, must not unreasonably impinge on the ability of other
farmers in meeting the requirements and expectations of the
market they chose to meet. Australian farmers are well-placed to
responsibly harness the enormous opportunities gene technology
offers the environment… reducing use of pesticides and
herbicides, maximizing water efficiency, developing resilience
in adverse growing conditions and boosting production yields.
Naturally, it is vital that producers identify, and thoroughly
assess, potential risks and implement strategies to manage them.
The NFF is satisfied Australia’s safeguards – through the Gene
Technology Act 2000 – ensure both food safety and the sustained
integrity of organic and conventional food production.” (Source:
NFF Media Release, November 27, 2007)
Western Australia and Tasmania Urged States to Maintain GM
moratoria
In a joint media release issued on November 24, the Western
Australian (WA) Agriculture and Food Minister Kim Chance and
Tasmania Primary Industries Minister David Llewellyn jointly
called on Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia to
maintain their moratoria on the commercial production of
Genetically Modified (GM) crops. The Ministers urged the
governments of these states to respect the wishes of Australian
consumers, food manufacturers and farmers for the moratoria to
be maintained. “If Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia
lift their GM moratoria, it will increase the risks to Western
Australia and Tasmania’s GM-free agriculture and threaten
Australia’s overseas markets,” Mr. Chance said. “Opening up
other parts of Australia to GM crops could lead to large-scale
contamination, subsequent risks to market access and price
premiums currently enjoyed by
Australian canola farmers, while imposing higher costs on them
for product segregation.”
Currently in Tasmania a Joint Select Committee is reviewing its
Genetically Modified Organisms moratorium, which is due to end
in mid 2008. (Source: Joint Tasmania & Western Australia Media
Release)
Mixed Reaction to Lifting GM Ban
The decisions by the New South Wales and Victorian Governments
to lift a moratorium on genetically modified (GM) canola crops
have provoked a mixed reaction among local farmers and
campaigners alike.
Victoria Agriculture Minister Joe Helper yesterday argued
imported GM products were already available in supermarkets and
lifting the ban would give farmers a choice. Victorian Farmers
Federation president Simon Ramsay welcomed the decision, saying
it would give farmers the choice to take advantage of technology
which would increase productivity and reduce chemical and
pesticide use.
But farmers such as anti GM-campaigner Geoffrey Carracher, from
Minimay in the state's south-west, who last year found high
levels of contamination of his canola crop from nearby trial GM
sites, has long argued it was impossible to quarantine GM crops
because of windborne seeds. Greater Bendigo Councilor Rod Fyffe
said a council policy against GM crops formulated in 2002
reflected widespread community concern. "We are very
disappointed at this decision," he said. "Until the health risks
are assessed over a long period, we cannot say conclusively that
these products are safe."
However, Springbank Farm marketing manager Chris Dingle said
accepting GM crops not only gave farmers a level playing field
against international competition, but the need to lift
production in the face of a rapidly growing world population
made innovation essential.
Biological Farmers of Australia is pushing for a fund to be
created to compensate non-GM farmers financially affected by
removal of the ban. (Source: Various online media reports,
November 27-28)
Original report:
http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200711/146293102.pdf
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