1.NSW GM crop ban welcomed
2.Monsanto's GM contamination found in Australia
QUOTE: "Regretfully, the GM companies appear unable to contain their product within the laboratory or within Office of Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) trial sites and they appear unable or unwilling to respect WA's moratorium or those in place in other Australian jurisdictions.
"I shall be raising the issue of GM contamination and the need for strict liability legislation as a matter of urgency...
"I will be seeking urgent advice from the Department of Agriculture on the means necessary to ensure that such events do not recur in WA while our moratorium is in place." - Kim Chance, Western Australia's Agriculture Minister
------
1.NSW GM crop ban welcomed
GeneEthics NEWS MEDIA RELEASE 14/9/05
Melbourne, Wednesday September 14, 2005: The GeneEthics Network welcomes NSW Agriculture Minister Ian Macdonald's decision to extend the state ban on genetically manipulated (GM) crops from 2006 to 2008.
"NSW has come into line with other state's bans on the growing of GM canola - a rational and necessary decision," says GeneEthics Director Bob Phelps.
"But the discovery of GM contamination in National Variety Trials (NTV) of canola in Western Australia, commissioned by the pro-GM Grains Research and Development Corporation, shows the ban is threatened," he says.
"Tough GM control measures and a zero tolerance policy for contamination in NSW are needed to identify, clean up and eliminate any GM pollution," he says.
GeneEthics wrote to all Agriculture Ministers asking them to:
* maintain GM crop moratoria in all jurisdictions, and that no state or territory end its present ban without the concurrence of others, as GE free areas would also be affected if GE canola were grown commercially.
* the need for uniform liability laws to ensure that:
1. common law remedies are not relied on to redress any harm or contamination that genetically engineered organisms may cause;
2. the owners of GE organisms are fully responsible for any negative impacts of their use;
3. an industry-supported fund is established to compensate anyone suffering loss or harm from the impacts GE organisms.
"The voice of reason is being heard, as Minister Chance has called for national strict liability laws and the extended NSW ban till 2008 aligns it with most other states," Mr Phelps says.
"Bayer's Topas 19/2 variety of herbicide tolerant canola, found recently in commercial canola in Victoria and South Australia must also be eliminated," he says.
"GM contamination is still at low levels but it can and must be quickly cleaned up before the nation's valuable GM-free markets are lost, both locally and globally" Mr Phelps concludes.
More comment: Bob Phelps 03 9347 4500 (O) 03 9889 1717 (H)
------
2.*Monsanto's GM contamination found in Australia*
13 September 2005
*Mr Chance said trace levels of Monsanto's GM canola had been found in two varieties of non-GM canola grown in National Variety Trials (NVT) in WA and that similar incidents had been reported in other canola-growing States.*
*MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY;
THE MID-WEST; WHEATBELT
*MEDIA STATEMENT, 13/9/05
Attention: News Editor/Chief of Staff
*Traces of GM canola found in variety trials*
Agriculture Minister Kim Chance today called on GM companies to take greater care and responsibility for their product or face clean up costs in Western Australia following another contamination incident in WA.
Mr Chance said trace levels of Monsanto's GM canola had been found in two varieties of non-GM canola grown in National Variety Trials (NVT) in WA and that similar incidents had been reported in other canola-growing States.
"Fortunately, the low trace level of GM material means there is no immediate threat to access to overseas markets or the environment," Mr Chance said.
The GM level detected at the trial sites was 0.04 per cent, which is well below international market standards. The harshest standard in the world is that of the European Union at 0.9 per cent.
"Regretfully, the GM companies appear unable to contain their product within the laboratory or within Office of Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) trial sites and they appear unable or unwilling to respect WA's moratorium or those in place in other Australian jurisdictions," Mr Chance said.
The NVT program is funded and managed by the Grains Research Development Corporation and there are two canola NVT trial sites in Western Australia.
These trial sites are now being treated as GM sites and will be managed in accordance with established and approved protocols.
"Because the trace levels are so low, I am allowing the variety trials to be completed as they will provide valuable information. If these trials presented any danger to our reputation I would not allow them to continue," Mr Chance said.
The crops are currently flowering and all grain harvested from the sites once the trials are completed will be destroyed. The sites will then be monitored and any volunteer canola plants that germinate will be destroyed before they can flower.
"I am confident that these measures will manage the current situation. However, should such incidents recur in the future I will require the contaminated area to be destroyed," Mr Chance said.
"I shall be raising the issue of GM contamination and the need for strict liability legislation as a matter of urgency at the next meeting of the Primary Industry Ministerial Council.
"I will be seeking urgent advice from the Department of Agriculture on the means necessary to ensure that such events do not recur in WA while our moratorium is in place. "
"The Gallop Government is committed to protecting and enhancing Western Australia's agriculture and unique environment."
*Media contact:* Alicia Miriklis 9213 6700, 0428 911 240.