Independent economic think tank argues Australia should drop all state level GMO bans

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All moratoriums on genetically modified crops should be scrapped as there in “no justification” for the bans, a new Productivity Commission report argues.

And state governments should relinquish their power to impose such moratoriums, leaving regulation solely to the national regulator.

The Federal Government’s independent economic think tank [on July 20] released for public comment its draft report into regulation in Australian agriculture, including all aspects of GM technology.

It says NSW, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia and the ACT should all lift their moratoriums on GMOs, arguing there are no economic or health reasons for them.

Though a national system regulates GMOs, states and territories can still create their own legislation to prevent production.

Axing this power, the Commission says, would “result in a nationally consistent system” and “increase certainty that (the moratoriums) will not be reintroduced in the future”.

. . . .

It continued that while moratoriums should be used to address market or trade concerns only, it appeared the bans also reflected community fears about the safety of GM products — which, though widespread, “do not provide a rationale for banning GM crops if they are incongruous with … the scientific evidence.”

State and federal governments should work together to better educate the public on GMOs, it read.

Read full, original post: Lift GM crop ban, says Productivity Commission

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