Victoria, Australia
February 28, 2008
Source:
Government of Victoria
Victorian farmers will have choice
over which type of canola crop they will grow, when a four-year
moratorium on two varieties of genetically modified canola
lapses at the end of tomorrow (February 29), Agriculture
Minister, Joe Helper, said today.
“Victorian farmers will be able to compete on a level playing
field with farmers from US and Canada who already grow these
products and sell them in Australia and around the world,” Mr
Helper said.
“The Commonwealth Office of the Gene Technology Regulator gave
these two varieties the relevant environmental and health
approvals, and an independent report commissioned by Government
found ending the moratorium would benefit Victoria by $115
million over the next eight years.
“GM canola is a hardier plant and will result in less tillage,
and therefore less soil erosion, as well as less use of
pesticides.”
Canola will not be planted until the start of the season in
April and the Department of Primary Industry estimates that
under one per cent of Victoria’s canola crop will be GM in 2008.
The companies which supply the seed (Bayer and Monsanto) are
required to make an annual report to the Gene Technology
Regulator detailing the volume of seed sold.
Mr Helper said lifting the moratorium had the support of key
farming bodies who believed that GM canola could be kept
separate from other forms of canola.
“Studies show the grain supply chain has the capacity to keep
grain varieties separated and this will be the case with GM
canola,” Mr Helper said.
“As an additional measure all GM canola harvested in 2008 will
be processed at two locations to minimise the risk of
contamination.
“Lifting the moratorium will not affect the rules on the
labelling of GM foods, which is regulated by the Federal
Government, through Food Standards Australian and New Zealand.
“All foods containing GM ingredients are subject to a risk
assessment by FSANZ, before they are allowed to be sold in
Australia.
“Any foods with more than one per cent GM-material must be
labelled as such, for food to be labelled GM-free it must
contain no genetically modified ingredients.”
The decision to end the moratorium applies only to two varieties
of GM canola, not to other GM crops.
Supporters of growing GM canola in Victoria include: Victorian
Farmers Federation, Australian Grains Council, Australian Dairy
Industry Council, Australian Oilseeds Federation, ABB Grain,
Australian Food and Grocery Council, Birchip Cropping Group,
CropLife Australia and GrainCorp. |
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