www.checkbiotech.org ; www.raupp.info ; www.czu.cz

The genetically modified (GM) contamination of canola crops has been traced
to a Tasmanian trial in the late 1990s, November 2005.

The state was contracted by the Victorian Government to grow a variety of
canola in 1999 and recent tests show that while the seeds were GM-free when
sent across Bass Strait, return shipments were contaminated.

The state's handling of the trial will now be investigated by the gene
technology regulator, Dr Sue Meek, although she says that is only one line
of inquiry.

"There is an inference from some results from the Victorian Department of
Primary Industries that one source of contamination might have originated in
Tasmania," she said.

"There's more than one type of genetic material that's been discovered and
more than one line that is involved."

Tasmania's head of biosecurity Alex Schaap is concerned that a conclusion
seems to have been reached before any investigation takes place.

He is welcoming the inquiry, to determine exactly how the contamination
occurred.

"I guess that's the troubling thing for us, we haven't in our investigations
to date been able to generate any plausible hypothesis about how
contamination could have occurred," he said.

Meanwhile, grain handler Graincorp will remove any grower liability for GM
contamination once this year's harvest is delivered.

Managing director Tom Keene says growers will not have to make declarations
about the GM status of their canola and will not be held to account is
unintended GM material is found.

"It's not only Graincorp of course, I think you'll find it's common across
the industry and certainly that outcome is supported by the Australian
Oilseeds Federation which is industry representative on this issue," he
said.

"We're very confident there won't be any high level detections, it has only
ever been at the trace level."

[www.abc.net.au]

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