Australia GM laws seen helping to ease public fear
Date: 31-Oct-00
Country: AUSTRALIA
Under the proposed Gene Technology Bill 2000, which is expected to be debated in parliament next week, processes used to determine the risk of GM crops would involve greater public consultation and become more extensive.
The new Office of the Gene Technology Regulator would regulate the development of new technologies throughout the lengthy research and development process, and have the power to prosecute any companies which breach the tight regulations.
"I think those are very important developments which the public can see as providing confidence in the change from a non-statutory to a statutory process," said Nancy Millis, chair of the voluntary Genetic Manipulation Advisory Committee.
Millis was speaking at conference organised by Avcare, the National Association for Crop Production and Animal Health.
However, the increased cost of complying with the regulations under a new system would be likely to cripple smaller biotech firms and research institutes, and lead to greater dominance by multinational biotech giants, she said.
"Of course, they're the only ones with any money," Millis said.
GM issues have been raising public concern in Australia and elsewhere, notably Europe, about the possible impact on human health and over moral issues connected with interference with natural processes.
Australian farmers are interesting in reaping productivity gains from growing GM crops but are also wary of consumer reactions.