Background
In May 2020, the South Australian Parliament passed legislation which allows genetically-modified food crops to be grown across South Australia, with the exception of Kangaroo Island. Prior to the amendment there was a ban on the cultivation of Genetically Modified (GM) food crops in South Australia.
This legislation also gives Councils in SA a once off opportunity to apply to the Minister for Primary Industries for all or part of their Council area to be designated as an area in which no GM food crops may be grown.
Council is currently considering whether to submit an application. To assist Council in making an informed decision, community input is sought, particularly from people engaged in primary production activities and food processing or manufacturing activities in the Council area.
As the State Government can only regulate GM food crops where there are risks to markets and trade, if Council submits an application it must be based on the marketing and trade affects of GM food crops. Other matters associated with GM food crops is regulated by Commonwealth legislation.
Find out more
More information on GM food crops in South Australia is available from the following links:
Genetically Modified Crops Management Act 2004
PIRSA information on GM Crops
Independent GM Review
Get Involved
You are invited tell us how the trade and marketing impact of GM crops may be impacted by a change in GM status by:
To complete the survey online or to make an online submission you may need to register to get involved. To register click on the brown register button. To find out more about registering click here.
What happens to your feedback?
All input received will be reported to the Council meeting on 25 August 2020.
The Elected Members will use this information to decide to:
- apply to the Minister for Primary Industries to remain an area in which no genetically modified food crops can be cultivated or
- do nothing, in which case, genetically-modified food crops can be grown in the Council area next year
If Council submits an application the Minister makes the final decision and must also undertake six weeks public consultation and must be satisfied that the object of designating an area as a non-GM crop area is for marketing purposes.
Consultation closes at 9.00am on Monday 10 August 2020.
Background
In May 2020, the South Australian Parliament passed legislation which allows genetically-modified food crops to be grown across South Australia, with the exception of Kangaroo Island. Prior to the amendment there was a ban on the cultivation of Genetically Modified (GM) food crops in South Australia.
This legislation also gives Councils in SA a once off opportunity to apply to the Minister for Primary Industries for all or part of their Council area to be designated as an area in which no GM food crops may be grown.
Council is currently considering whether to submit an application. To assist Council in making an informed decision, community input is sought, particularly from people engaged in primary production activities and food processing or manufacturing activities in the Council area.
As the State Government can only regulate GM food crops where there are risks to markets and trade, if Council submits an application it must be based on the marketing and trade affects of GM food crops. Other matters associated with GM food crops is regulated by Commonwealth legislation.
Find out more
More information on GM food crops in South Australia is available from the following links:
Genetically Modified Crops Management Act 2004
PIRSA information on GM Crops
Independent GM Review
Get Involved
You are invited tell us how the trade and marketing impact of GM crops may be impacted by a change in GM status by:
To complete the survey online or to make an online submission you may need to register to get involved. To register click on the brown register button. To find out more about registering click here.
What happens to your feedback?
All input received will be reported to the Council meeting on 25 August 2020.
The Elected Members will use this information to decide to:
- apply to the Minister for Primary Industries to remain an area in which no genetically modified food crops can be cultivated or
- do nothing, in which case, genetically-modified food crops can be grown in the Council area next year
If Council submits an application the Minister makes the final decision and must also undertake six weeks public consultation and must be satisfied that the object of designating an area as a non-GM crop area is for marketing purposes.
Consultation closes at 9.00am on Monday 10 August 2020.
