Introduction of genetically modified (GM) canola varieties into the
Australian supply chain will not create significantly more work for
industry, but may require expansion of existing sampling and testing
regimes.


The Bureau of Rural Sciences (BRS) today released the report Maintaining
product integrity in the Australian seed and grain supply chain ? the role
of sampling and testing for GM events.

?This report is a comprehensive review of sampling and testing likely to be
needed in the future for managing the unintended presence of approved GM
organisms in non-GM seed and grain,? BRS Executive Director Karen Schneider
said.

?This report presents, for the first time, proposed sampling and testing
screening packages for GM organisms at several points along the supply
chain.

?These screening packages could be used by industry as a model approach to
ensure continued product integrity, allowing co-existence of GM and non-GM
seed and grain in the supply chain.

?Industry routinely performs sampling and testing of seed and grain for
quality attributes such as oil or protein content. Adding extra tests for
the presence of approved GM organisms in non-GM seed or grain is unlikely to
impose significant extra burden.

?Ultimately, it?s market demand for differentiated products?GM and
non-GM?that will drive the sampling and testing needs of the Australian seed
and grain industry.?
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