AreaAustralia

Commodity GroupOilseeds, oils and meals

CommodityRapeseed

Date01/06/2017

Policy CategoryOther

Policy InstrumentGMO policy

DescriptionIssued a parliamentary petition calling for compensation of farmers when GM-rapeseed contamination causes them to lose their GM-free or organic certification.

NotesIn the Parliament of West Australia, a petition was filed calling on the State Government to compensate farmers when GM-rapeseed contamination causes them to lose their GM-free or organic certification. According to the motion, GM contamination can create significant economic losses or extra costs, because GM-rapeseed or rapeseed tainted with GM material command lower prices per tonne on world markets. Although cultivation of GM-rapeseed has been allowed in three Australian States (comprising West Australia), the country remains the world’s leading supplier of GM-free rapeseed – including to the lucrative EU market (see also MPPU June’14, Nov.’15 & Sep.’16).