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David Llewellyn, MHA Minister for Primary Industries and Water
Kim Chance WA Agriculture and Food Minister
Monday, 26 November 2007
WA Agriculture and Food Minister Kim Chance and Tasmania Primary Industries Minister David Llewellyn have jointly called on Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia to maintain their moratorium on the commercial production of Genetically Modified (GM) crops.
The Ministers urged the governments of these states to respect the wishes of Australian consumers, food manufacturers and farmers for the moratoria to be maintained.
“If Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia lift their GM moratoria, it will increase the risks to Western Australia and Tasmania’s GM-free agriculture and threaten Australia’s overseas markets,” Mr Chance said.
“Opening up other parts of Australia to GM crops could lead to large-scale contamination, subsequent risks to market access and price premiums currently enjoyed by Australian canola farmers, while imposing higher costs on them for product segregation.”
Mr Llewellyn said that the likelihood of contamination of non-GM canola crops throughout Australia would undoubtedly be increased by any decision to lift the moratorium.
“In 2004, GM canola managed to contaminate crops in all canola growing states of Australia despite the fact that each state had a moratorium in place,” Mr Llewellyn said.
The ministers said that the safest and most secure future for Australia’s farmers and consumers was in the production and consumption of GM-free foods and not in pursuing GM food crops that had been rejected by consumers because of health concerns.
Mr Chance said Australian farmers currently produced food of the highest quality and safety for local consumption and export to a range of overseas markets.
“We are heavily reliant on our export markets and lifting the GM moratorium could jeopardise this trade relationship,” he said.
Mr Llewellyn said it could damage Australia’s international reputation as a source of reliable, safe quality and GM-free food.
“Clearly Australian consumers are concerned about the food they eat, and value Australia’s “clean and green, GM-free” status,” he said.
“Unless consumers tell us otherwise, WA will not be changing its policy on GM food,” Mr Chance said.
Currently in Tasmania a Joint Select Committee is reviewing its Genetically Modified Organisms moratorium, which is due to end in mid 2008.
Mr Llewellyn indicated that is was very untimely for NSW and Victoria to lift their bans due to the result of Federal Labor being elected as this is an area of national policy we need to review for our Australian brand and market advantage internationally.
“The moratorium supports Australia’s ‘clean and green’ status and is also reflective of overwhelming public opinion in WA and consumer sentiment around the world.”
Further information:
Tasmanian Government Communications UnitPhone: (03) 6233 6573
Kim Chance WA Agriculture and Food Minister
Monday, 26 November 2007
WA Agriculture and Food Minister Kim Chance and Tasmania Primary Industries Minister David Llewellyn have jointly called on Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia to maintain their moratorium on the commercial production of Genetically Modified (GM) crops.
The Ministers urged the governments of these states to respect the wishes of Australian consumers, food manufacturers and farmers for the moratoria to be maintained.
“If Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia lift their GM moratoria, it will increase the risks to Western Australia and Tasmania’s GM-free agriculture and threaten Australia’s overseas markets,” Mr Chance said.
“Opening up other parts of Australia to GM crops could lead to large-scale contamination, subsequent risks to market access and price premiums currently enjoyed by Australian canola farmers, while imposing higher costs on them for product segregation.”
Mr Llewellyn said that the likelihood of contamination of non-GM canola crops throughout Australia would undoubtedly be increased by any decision to lift the moratorium.
“In 2004, GM canola managed to contaminate crops in all canola growing states of Australia despite the fact that each state had a moratorium in place,” Mr Llewellyn said.
The ministers said that the safest and most secure future for Australia’s farmers and consumers was in the production and consumption of GM-free foods and not in pursuing GM food crops that had been rejected by consumers because of health concerns.
Mr Chance said Australian farmers currently produced food of the highest quality and safety for local consumption and export to a range of overseas markets.
“We are heavily reliant on our export markets and lifting the GM moratorium could jeopardise this trade relationship,” he said.
Mr Llewellyn said it could damage Australia’s international reputation as a source of reliable, safe quality and GM-free food.
“Clearly Australian consumers are concerned about the food they eat, and value Australia’s “clean and green, GM-free” status,” he said.
“Unless consumers tell us otherwise, WA will not be changing its policy on GM food,” Mr Chance said.
Currently in Tasmania a Joint Select Committee is reviewing its Genetically Modified Organisms moratorium, which is due to end in mid 2008.
Mr Llewellyn indicated that is was very untimely for NSW and Victoria to lift their bans due to the result of Federal Labor being elected as this is an area of national policy we need to review for our Australian brand and market advantage internationally.
“The moratorium supports Australia’s ‘clean and green’ status and is also reflective of overwhelming public opinion in WA and consumer sentiment around the world.”
Further information:
Tasmanian Government Communications UnitPhone: (03) 6233 6573
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