Environmental groups say there will be a consumer backlash against the
Victorian Government's decision to end the four-year moratorium on
genetically-modified canola.
Two types of genetically-modified canola can be grown on Victorian
farms from today.

Government regulators have given the two varieties the relevant
environmental and health approvals, with a report finding the move will
benefit Victoria by $115 million over the next eight years.

Victorian Agriculture Minister Joe Helper says farmers now have a
choice of which type of canola they grow, putting them on a level playing
field with farmers from other countries.

Mr Helper says the relevant health and environmental approvals have
been given.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) is welcoming the move.

VFF grains vice-president Andrew Weidemann says grain growers will be
more competitive with their overseas counterparts.

"Growers now will have the opportunity to chose a new technology that
prior to the announcement by the Government, they weren't able to do,' he
said.

"They will now be competing on a level footing with other growers
across the world."

But Biological Farmers of Australia spokesman Scott Kinnear says GM
crops are not safe and will be unregulated and uncontrolled.

"They haven't been tested on animals extensively, they haven't been
tested on humans at all anywhere in the world," he said.

"There is no health monitoring going on in terms of consequences of
eating GM food."

Mr Kinnear says there are serious risks to the health and safety of
people who eat GM foods.

"We have seen increases in allergies and diseases around the world
coinciding with the introduction of GM foods," he said.

"There is no research by any government regulatory agency around the
world investigating whether there there is a link between the consumption of
GM foods and health and safety and that is a scandal that needs to be
overturned."

Mr Kinnear says consumers do not like GM products and neither do
Australia's grain buyers in Europe, Japan and the Middle East.

"We should be listening to these sensitivities, value-adding our
product as non-GM, and certainly sitting back and watching the GM Titanic as
it hits the iceberg, which inevitably it will do," he said.

But Mr Weidemann says Australia still uses some products and
pesticides that are banned in other countries and the GM go-ahead will move
the sector forward.

"It's not going to be too long before those countries actually say to
us, 'why are you using these old farming methods and why aren't you moving
on and moving forward and using the new farming methods that are available
to all these other farming nations' - so it is a green light day for
Victorian agriculture."


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