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States set own GM-free zones
27 May 2002
The Australian Federal and State governments have agreed to laws that will allow State governments to create genetically-modified (GM) free agriculture zones. The laws will also allow the creation of zones where only GM crops will be produced.
The agreement was reached at a meeting of the Gene Technology Ministerial Council in late May 2002 and will give certainty to organic producers in the GM-free zones in the marketing and labelling of their products.
Already, the Tasmanian Government has declared the entire State to be GM-free while the Victorian and South Australian Governments have passed legislation to create GM-free zones.
The new agreement with the Federal Government will mean that the Commonwealth Gene Technology Regulator, Sue Meek, will only be able to override a State decision to establish a GM zone if the environment or public health is at risk.
The agreement has come as two global agribusiness giants - Monsanto and Aventis Cropscience - are expected within weeks to apply to Dr Meek’s office to release modified canola. If the two companies are successful, the first GM crop grown in Australia could be sown in 2003.
The Australian, 27/05/2002, page 3.
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