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NEWS

Minister condemns gene tech breaches

April 6  2001

Federal Health Minister, Dr Michael Wooldridge, said today he was disappointed that companies conducting genetically modified crop trials in Tasmania had disregarded existing voluntary controls on use of genetically modified organisms in Australia.

Dr Wooldridge was releasing draft reports into breaches of the voluntary conditions by Aventis CropScience Pty Ltd and Monsanto Australia Ltd.

"It disappoints me that the voluntary controls set up by the previous Federal Labor Government have been so flagrantly flouted in this case.

"However, I am relieved that active policing and prompt action have meant negligible possibility of harm to the environment - and no chance of harm to humans.

"Furthermore, I look forward to the end of June this year when our tough new gene technology laws ensure that Australia can legally ensure no-one can treat our home with disrespect like this again," Dr Wooldridge said.

"The people of Tasmania and the rest of the nation can rest assured that once this legislation is in place, we will be prepared to use it to get tough on anyone who does not treat the Australian landscape with respect."

Dr Wooldridge thanked the Interim Office of Gene Technology Regulation (IOGTR) for being so vigilant on behalf of the environment and Australians.

"I am pleased to note that their monitoring of the use of GMO trials has been so effective" Dr Wooldridge said, noting that full details of IOGTR inspections in Tasmania were available in the report.

"I note also that the ALP, which is often critical of how we handle this issue, was happy in Government to preside over field trials all over Australia without ever once monitoring how companies were keeping the trials from spreading."

Dr Wooldridge said he was also concerned at the way in which the Tasmanian Minister for Primary Industry, Water and the Environment had chosen to deal with this issue of non-compliance by Aventis and Monsanto in  Tasmania.

"He appears to have actively fed the concern understandably felt by Tasmanians, rather then taking a responsible course of condemning the companies - but keeping the magnitude of the breaches in perspective," Dr Wooldridge said.

The breaches relate to the inspection by the IOGTR in February this year of 49 canola trial sites operated by Aventis and eight sites under the control of Monsanto.

Of the Aventis sites, 18 were found not to comply with the recommendations made by GMAC with respect to the conduct of field trials. Of the Monsanto sites, three were found not to comply with GMAC recommendations.

In all cases, flowering or mature canola was found at a time when the sites should have been regularly cleaned up to prevent the plants from reaching such mature stages of growth. Action was immediately taken by the IOGTR to ensure the companies cleaned up the sites.

"I am pleased the IOGTR is continuing to monitor these sites on a regular basis. These reports show the IOGTR is on the job and doing it well," Dr Wooldridge said.

"The IOGTR has now made two further visits to Tasmania to check the remedial action being taken by Monsanto and Aventis on all sites, including ensuring that volunteers are removed, and that compatible species are destroyed where necessary."

Dr Wooldridge said the continued presence of volunteers at various stages of maturity at the sites underlines the importance of the IOGTR's request, as set out in the reports, that GMAC seriously consider the future of such field trials, conducted by these companies.

"I await further advice on this issue." Dr Wooldridge said

Copy of draft report available on www.health.gov.au/tga/genetech.htm

OGTR news release

N3647

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