[Greens-Media] GE contamination

[Dominika Rajewski]

Media Release                                              8 August 2005 NSW Must Act to Protect GE-free Status                                 "The NSW government must take immediate urgent action to protect the GE-free status of NSW farmers" said Greens MLC Ian Cohen today. "GE material has now been found in both Victoria and Western Australia. Nobody knows whether or not contaminated seed has spread to NSW, because there is no testing regime in place here. However, it is quite likely that contamination has occurred here too."   The latest incident of genetically modified canola traces being found in non-GE seed shipments occurred in Western Australia. In July traces of Topas, a type of GE canola produced by Bayer, were found in shipments of Victorian canola bound for Japan.  "Australia's GE-free status is at risk, jeopardising our food exports to countries that insist on zero detectable levels of GE material." Mr Cohen said. "The states need to mount a co-ordinated effort to identify and isolate any further contamination of canola crops with GE strains. The Victorian and Western Australian governments have acted responsibly by undertaking testing. Meanwhile, the Minister in NSW seems to be sitting on his hands and has not even convened a meeting of the GE Advisory Council."  "Farmers who will be harvesting their crops this year may have unwittingly planted GE crops due to contamination. This not only has implications for their markets, but also means they could be in breach of the moratorium on GE commercial crops in NSW. Minister Macdonald needs to reassure farmers that when they think they have planted non-GE crops, they have not in fact planted crops that are contaminated with GE material. This reassurance can only come with rigorous testing of seed." Mr Cohen said.  "If contamination is found, the Minister should ensure that Bayer foots the bill for the clean-up of the contamination. These incidents show how easily contamination can occur and that there is no system in place to hold those responsible for contamination to account."    Further Information: Dominika Rajewski, 0421 893 054