❓ Hon Giz Watson asks about the methodology for determining GM contamination in canola, acceptable contamination levels, and the impact on organic growers. The response details testing procedures, acceptable contamination levels in international trade, and industry guidelines to protect organic crops.
AnsweredQoN 2479Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the answer given to question on notice No. 1436 on 20 April 2010, and I ask -
(1) What methodology and tools will be employed by DAFWA to determine contamination?
(2) What percentage of contamination is considered acceptable?
(3) What will be the impact for organic growers?
(1) What methodology and tools will be employed by DAFWA to determine contamination?
(2) What percentage of contamination is considered acceptable?
(3) What will be the impact for organic growers?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 August 2010
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection representing the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Response time
56 days
Department of Agriculture and Food
(1) The GM canola trial to which the Member refers in her earlier question, No 1436, was grown in 2009 on 17 growers properties and two Research Stations owned by the Department of Agriculture and Food. Cooperative Bulk Handling (CBH) to whom all the GM grain was delivered, tested each load of non-GM canola delivered from those properties. These would have been at the greatest risk of contamination, but all tested negative. CBH also tested every stack of canola delivered to other receival sites. These all tested negative for the presence of the GM construct.
This testing has clearly demonstrated that containment was complete and there was no identifiable gene flow by pollen into other canola crops.
(2) The international grain trade has set the acceptable level of GM adventitious presence in non-GM canola of one percent. Some countries have set higher levels, for example Japan has a five percent acceptable maximum.
(3) The industry segregation guidelines, which all GM canola licensees are required to comply with, are designed so that organic grower's canola crops are safe from any measureable contamination.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
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(1) The GM canola trial to which the Member refers in her earlier question, No 1436, was grown in 2009 on 17 growers properties and two Research Stations owned by the Department of Agriculture and Food. Cooperative Bulk Handling (CBH) to whom all the GM grain was delivered, tested each load of non-GM canola delivered from those properties. These would have been at the greatest risk of contamination, but all tested negative. CBH also tested every stack of canola delivered to other receival sites. These all tested negative for the presence of the GM construct.
This testing has clearly demonstrated that containment was complete and there was no identifiable gene flow by pollen into other canola crops.
(2) The international grain trade has set the acceptable level of GM adventitious presence in non-GM canola of one percent. Some countries have set higher levels, for example Japan has a five percent acceptable maximum.
(3) The industry segregation guidelines, which all GM canola licensees are required to comply with, are designed so that organic grower's canola crops are safe from any measureable contamination.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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