Background
Whilst a number of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are approved for commercial release in Australia (a carnation, a number of varieties of cotton and two varieties of canola), a far greater number and type of GMOs are approved for commercial use overseas.
Worldwide, there are approximately 80 different types of GM crops that have been approved for commercialisation in 16 countries. Most of these GMOs are different modifications to the four main crops: canola, soybean, maize and cotton. However, other commercially released crops include papaya, potato, squash, and tomato.
There is a potential for unapproved GMOs to gain entry into Australia by appearing as trace amounts in conventional imports leading to the ‘unintended presence’ (UP) of GMOs.
In 2002 an inter-departmental Working Group on Unintended Presence was formed to manage Unintended Presence of Unapproved GMOs. The Working Group had representation from the major Australian Government agencies responsible for this issue, including Biotechnology Australia, the Department of Environment and Heritage, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, FSANZ and the OGTR.
It was agreed that seeds imported for sowing should be addressed as a priority with other potential sources of unintended presence to follow according to the risks they present.
An Unintended Presence strategy was developed by the Working Group and approved by the Biotechnology Ministerial Council in May 2005.
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