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GM seeds to be prohibited: Chance
30-August-07
Genetically modified seed will be prohibited for cultivation, sale or
import in Western Australia under new laws introduced this week by Agriculture
minister Kim Chance.
The full text of a ministerial announcement is pasted below
Agriculture and Food Minister Kim Chance this week introduced legislation
into the Western Australian Parliament designed to further protect the
State's moratorium on the growing of Genetically Modified (GM) crops.
The Seeds Amendment Bill 2007 will allow the Minister to declare GM
seed to be 'prohibited seed'.
"Under the proposed changes, it will be an offence to import, sell
or be in possession of prohibited seed in WA for the purposes of cultivation,"
Mr Chance said.
"This legislation is designed to protect WA's GM-free cropping
systems from intentional or inadvertent GM contamination."
The Minister said that traces of GM contamination had been previously
detected in the State's canola crop, despite the fact that all canola-growing
States of Australia had a moratorium in place.
Testing of canola within WA had revealed no further traces of GM canola
lines. The Department of Agriculture and Food continues to test for
contamination of seed lines and harvested canola as an ongoing activity.
"WA's GM-free status is providing benefits to WA farmers in terms
of price premiums for food grade non-GM canola and continued market
access to discerning markets in Europe, Japan, India and China,"
Mr Chance said.
"The legislation will help to protect and maintain the market advantage
currently enjoyed by WA farmers because of our GM-free status in the
local and international marketplace."
The Minister said the risks to the State's GM-free canola cropping and
grain handling systems could be further increased if other States lifted
their moratorium in 2008. WA had a moratorium in place until 2009.
Mr Chance established a Ministerial Reference group to prepare a discussion
paper for public consultation on the risk s and benefits of GM canola
to farmers and markets.
The discussion paper should be available for public comment in early
2008.
Web Link: http://www.wabusinessnews.com.au/en-story/1/
56265/GM-seeds-to-be-prohibited-Chance
Note that direct links to the source are provided wherever
possible. Otherwise, a link to a web-posted copy on a 3rd party site is
given.
Sometimes these links will expire, so the above archived copy will be
the only reference.
** NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed for research and educational purposes only. **
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