New South Wales state ban on GM planting

SYDNEY - New South Wales has passed a bill imposing a three-year moratorium on the growing of genetically modified food crops.

The main effect of a bill passed by the NSW Parliament will be to delay the planting of Australia's first commercial GM canola crop, which could have been planted this year after earlier clearance in principle by the federal gene technology regulator.

The NSW Farmers Association has said it supports postponement of any general release of GM canola until segregation and trade issues are fully addressed.

The NSW moratorium is part of an effective Australia-wide stay on planting of a commercial GM canola crop.

Queensland, which does not grow canola, is the only Australian state which supports agricultural biotechnology.

Australia is the world's second largest canola exporter, after Canada, whose crop is mainly genetically modified.

Australian farmers fear the loss of some markets with the introduction of GM canola, but also fear missing productivity gains if they do not grow GM crops.

Australian canola, widely used for cooking oil, is mainly exported to Asian markets.

- REUTERS