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WA GM ban to stay
23 Oct 2007
West Australia's Agriculture Minister, Kim Chance, has said that the state's current ban on GM crops would remain in place for the current term of government and that there would be no change in policy until consumer attitudes toward GM food had improved. The announcement has disappointed farm groups whose members had been hoping for an end to the moratorium. Hopes that GM cotton may be allowed in the Ord region were dashed after Mr Chance was presented with a petition from a Japanese delegation signed by 10,000 people which warned that Japanese consumers would not buy WA produce if GM crops were allowed. The group claims that the signatories to the petition represent 2.9 million Japanese consumers and Mr Chance said that the delegation's views would be taken into account when considering the future of GM cotton. Growers' group Vegetables WA supports the ban on GM crops remaining in place as their produce is attracting more interest from key Asian markets due to its GM-free status.
The West Australian, 23/10/2007
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