Tasmania wary of former GM sites

Former GM crop field trial sites in Tasmania are under close scrutiny from the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment.

Recent audits from the department, along with the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) and industry representatives have found that there are seven sites that are still not completely clear of GM plants.

Canola and oilseed poppies are the two crops that have been trialled in Tasmania to date. Agricultural biotech companies Aventis CropScience Aventis CropScience and Monsanto have both had canola trials.

David Llewellyn, Minister for the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment, said he was not pleased with the results of the audit.

"This result may be partly due to the unseasonably wet and mild summer, but the presence of genetically modified plants at these sites is not satisfactory," he said.

"While the condition of these sites has improved since February last year, my Department is working closely with the OGTR to ensure the management of these former GM crop sites continues to improve."

An OGTR spokesperson said that the OGTR had not identified any problems with the sites.

The Gene Technology Policy released by the Tasmanian government's Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment in July last year recommended a moratorium on GM organisms to be reviewed in 2003.

Llewellyn said he also wanted the OGTR to recognise Tasmania's GM-free status. The OGTR Gene Technology Ministerial Council is due to meet in the next month.

"I will ask the Ministerial Council to support a policy principle to ensure that GM-free areas designated under State legislation will be recognised by the Gene Technology Regulator," he said

"Ultimately, the Tasmanian government will not accept a lesser level of protection than is appropriate for our unique circumstances. We intend to ensure that the national regulator recognises our GM-free protected areas and that the regulator is informed of environmental issues specific to Tasmania."

An application for a trial of GM poppies has reportedly been submitted, according to Llewellyn, who said that if the OGTR licensed the trial, it would be subject to a number of "stringent conditions" based on the Gene Technology Policy.

"The trial must be adequately isolated, it must be adequately managed, licence conditions must minimise gene flow and seed cannot be used as a food by-product from the trial. Further, to assist detection, a diagnostic test to identify the genetic modification must be made available to my Department," he said.

The OGTR spokesperson said that each state was being encouraged to develop legislature outlining policies for control and testing of GM organisms.