Nov. 29, 2007
The Australian state governments of New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria have accepted the recommendations of independent review panels to end their moratoriums on the cultivation of genetically modified food crops early next year. Farming and industry groups have welcomed the moves and urged similar action by the
The governments of Victoria and NSW have agreed that their moratoriums should not be extended beyond the February/March 2008 expiration dates laid down in their respective legislation. The NSW government plans to amend its legislation to establish an expert committee to assess whether an industry is capable of segregating GM and non-GM crops. "The Minister will have the power to refuse approval to cultivate a specific crop if an industry fails to meet the criteria imposed by the expert committee," says NSW Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald.
The NSW government banned the cultivation of GM food crops in 2003 and extended the three-year moratorium for a further two years in 2005. It appointed a review panel this year to explore the impacts on trade and market access of extending or modifying the moratorium, or allowing it to expire. The government concludes that NSW farmers have missed out on export opportunities as a result of the failure to adopt GM canola. "Market conditions have changed since the [GM crop moratorium] Act was introduced, with GM canola now responsible for 70% of the world's trade," Mr Macdonald says.
The review panel's recommendations for amendments to the legislation recognise "the change in the preparedness of the grains industry to manage GM food crops and the increasing consumer acceptance of GM technology". The panel acknowledges that efforts undertaken by the industry demonstrate that it is "ready to manage GM canola in such a way that ensures market choice for supply chain participants, including consumers".
The
Both the Victoria and NSW governments have agreed to work towards a national framework on GM crops through the Primary Industries Ministerial Council. Farming groups such as the NSW Farmers' Association have been urging co-ordinated action on the state moratoriums in view of inter-state trade and grain movement. The Grains Research and Development Corporation welcomes the end of the moratoriums in Victoria and NSW and calls for similar action in
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