EXCERPT: "The issue is set to widen, with the Western Australian discovery coming just weeks after a similar incident in Victoria.

Authorities believe the source of the contamination could be from lines of commercial seed sold to farmers all over Australia."
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WA seeks national GM liability laws
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Tuesday, 09/08/2005
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/content/2005/s1433454.htm

Western Australia's Minister for Agriculture says he would like to see national legislation governing liability for GM contamination.

The call comes after preliminary test results in WA identified a small amount of genetically-modified canola in non-GM canola.

The sample has now been sent overseas to confirm the initial results.

Kim Chance says while he believes his state's GM-free status is not under threat, liability laws are something the grain industry should consider.

"And indeed, I think the question of liability laws is one that the pro-GM groups ought to support as well, because it would be, if it was properly constructed, it would be something that would give a degree of legal certainly to both sides," he said.

The issue is set to widen, with the Western Australian discovery coming just weeks after a similar incident in Victoria.

Authorities believe the source of the contamination could be from lines of commercial seed sold to farmers all over Australia.

Scott Kinnear from organics group Biological Farmers Australia says seed products may have to be recalled and crops destroyed to protect Australia's GM-free status.

"Certainly the banning of any contaminated seed varieties from sale and either crop destruction, which is what we are urging them to do or a quarantining type of arrangement whereby we identify the crops and we send them through the supply chain in very carefully monitored and controlled consignments to ensure that contamination is not spread throughout the grain cropping system throughout Australia," he said.