from Business Day via Checkbiotech.org

The growing of genetically modified (GM) cereal seed crops is concentrated largely in three provinces of South Africa - the Free State, Mpumalanga and western KwaZulu Natal, according to South African Agriculture Minister Thoko Didiza.

Replying to a question from African Christian Democratic Party MP Kent Durr, the minister said according to the crop estimates committee of the directorate of agricultural statistics in her department 2.8% of the total area planted with white maize and 17.3% of the total area planted with yellow maize was grown from genetically modified seed.

They were insect resistant and herbicide tolerant white and yellow maize crops.

Asked whether these crops were harvested and stored separately from the other crops, she said this was "not a regulated process and storage depends on (the) trader."

Asked how the consumer could exercise their right of choice, Didiza said:

"Consumers can enquire from the seller of the food whether it is genetically modified or not and determine if they wish to consume it."

But she also said an identity preservation system for segregating GM food and non-GM food "is under development". The health department in collaboration with producers, distributors, the agro-processing industry and the agriculture department had published regulations for labelling of the food "that may be genetically modified".

The South African Bureau of Standards had been given the mandate to design an identity preservation system that would ensure segregation of modified food for purposes of quality assurance. "The system is currently under development," said the minister.