Tasmanian crop destroyed due to GM contamination

05 December 2002

"The Gene Technology Regulator has ordered the destruction of 40 hectares of crops affected by genetically-modified canola regrowth in Tasmania's northern midlands. The regrowth has appeared five years after GM canola was trialed at the site."

Gene regulator orders crop destruction after GM regrowth -

ABC radio , Rural News

The Gene Technology Regulator has ordered the destruction of 40 hectares of crops affected by genetically-modified canola regrowth in Tasmania's northern midlands.

The regrowth has appeared five years after GM canola was trialled at the site.

The acting regulator, Elizabeth Flynn, says the destruction order is part of routine monitoring and management to ensure GM canola doesn't persist in the environment.

The Tasmanian Greens say the incident reinforces the high risk of GM canola pollution, but Ms Flynn says the risk is minimal. “Very little risk of contamination, very little risk to the environment. I've sent staff down to Tasmania and they've ascertained there's no conventional canola growing in that area. The weeds that canola can mix with are being very well managed around the site so it is definitely contained to the site.”

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Hobart Mercury 5/12/2002

GE-tainted crops must go

By BRETT STUBBS

CROPS in two separate locations are to be completely destroyed after genetically engineered canola plants from a former trial grew again, the state Government announced yesterday.

Primary Industries, Water and Environment Minister Bryan Green said a 30ha poppy crop near Cressy and a 50ha lupin crop also in the Northern Midlands would to be destroyed at the request of the Commonwealth gene technology regulator, after canola plants, with an average density of about four plants a hectare were found.

The farmers will be fully compensated for the destroyed crops by Aventis CropScience Pty Ltd, which conducted the trial and is now owned by German company Bayer.

Mr Green said these were isolated incidents and illustrated the success of the moratorium system and the role of the regulator.

However, he admitted these were not the only former trial sites where regrowth was occurring.

"Every other site in Tasmania that was under trial _ and there were some 40-odd sites ... in the late 90s -- is monitoring very, very well, [and] most have no volunteers [regrowth] at all," Mr Green said.

"These particular two sites did have volunteers and I am very pleased and absolutely support the gene technology regulators decision to order these crops ... are destroyed to protect the integrity of Tasmania remaining GE-free in food production."

He said this would not effect new GM trials on poppies announced last month.

"The poppy trial is completely separate to this," he said. "It is not a food, it is about alkaloid production. It is enclosed, the ground will never be disked up, which means the seeds, if any that aren't destroyed, will remain on the surface."

Greens leader Peg Putt said the Government was trying to put a good spin on the regrowth and keep the system in place.

"Levels of genetic engineering contamination sufficient to order the destruction of two entire crops so that GE canola pollution is not spread further and our reputation ruined is no cause for back-slapping complacency," Ms Putt said.

"The Government has got its spin doctors on to trying to paint the need to regularly check up on the latest GE canola regrowth as a positive."

She said that until ``these unwelcome plants are no longer re-appearing" the problem would remain.

http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/stories/s739765.htm