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Japan's GM stance 'may impact Australia'
Sidney Morning Herald, September 1 2009
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/japans-gm-stance-may-impact-australia-20090901-f6gn.html

The new Japanese government's position on genetically-modified food may impact future growth of GM canola crops in Australia, Greenpeace says.

The anti-GM group claims the Democratic Party of Japan has said it will establish a food traceability system and has repeatedly called for more stringent labelling of genetically-engineered food.

"This is highly significant, since Japan is a major export market for Australian canola," Greenpeace GE campaigner Michelle Sheather said in a statement.

"Tighter labelling laws will likely lead to greater demand for GE-free canola products, and lower demand for food products that need to be labelled as containing genetically engineered ingredients."

GM canola is commercially grown in small amounts in NSW and Victoria, while Western Australia is reviewing its moratorium on GM crops.

A number of Japanese groups have lodged submissions to the WA review, Greenpeace said.