Genetically modified canola - 2010 audit report

Extract from Hansard
[COUNCIL — Tuesday, 9 August 2011]
p5302c-5303a
Hon Lynn MacLaren; Hon Robyn McSweeney

GENETICALLY MODIFIED CANOLA — 2010 AUDIT REPORT

Hon Lynn MacLaren to the Minister for Child Protection representing the Minister for Agriculture and
Food

I refer to the 2010 Genetically Modified Audit Program report, and ask —

(1) Were trucks transporting GM canola in the 2010 season required to be sealed as in the 2009 trials?

(2) Figure 1 in the report identifies the key steps in the commercial cultivation of GM canola in 2010. For
each of the following steps would the Minister advise which are voluntary and which are compulsory—

(a) inform neighbours;

(b) receive and store seed on-farm in original packaging away from other canola seed;

(c) establish and maintain records of all management practices and deliveries;

(d) sow using clean equipment;

(e) observe buffer zone requirements;

(f) retain empty seed bag labels;

(g) advise CBH of GM variety planted and estimated yield;

(h) inspect and report herbicide efficacy;

(i) apply required plant and equipment hygiene at harvest of GM canola; and

(j) monitor and destroy any GM volunteer plants germinating on farm including paddock, clean
down areas or storage areas and spillages?

(3) For each of those steps identified as compulsory in (2), what are the penalties associated with failing to
complete this step?

(4) Were audits solely interview based or did auditors inspect farms and verify what farmers told them?

(5) Were interviews conducted with the GM grower themselves?

(6) Were the audit results verified by interviewing other farm workers or the GM growers’ neighbours?

(7) How did the auditors verify 4.3 ‘GM grain deliveries declared as GM’ and 4.4 ‘Delivery transport
equipment sealed to avoid spillage’?

(8) Would the Minister table the audit reports from each farm audit for the 2009 and 2010 audits?

(9) Did DAFWA audit CBH grain handling both at GM and non-GM receival points?

Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied:

(1) No. In 2010 it was no longer a trial but a commercial crop.

(2) Growers who cultivate GM Roundup Ready canola do so under a "Roundup Ready Grower License and
Stewardship Agreement" with Monsanto. For the purposes of the answer to question 2 the "key steps"
referred to are identified as "compulsory" or "voluntary" according to whether a step is a mandatory
requirement of the agreement or not:

(a) Inform neighbours — voluntary.

(b) Receive and store seed on-farm in original packaging away from other canola seed —
compulsory.

(c) Establish and maintain records of all management practices and deliveries — compulsory.

(d) Sow using clean equipment — voluntary.

(e) Observe buffer requirements — compulsory.

(f) Retain empty seed bag labels — compulsory.

(g) Advise CBH of GM variety planted and estimated yield — compulsory.

(h) Inspect and report herbicide efficacy — voluntary.

(i) Apply required plant and equipment hygiene at harvest of GM canola — voluntary

(j) Monitor and destroy any GM volunteer plants germinating on farm including paddock, clean
down areas or storage areas and spillages — voluntary.

(3) The License and Stewardship Agreement is a legally binding agreement and legal remedies can be
sought in the event of a breach.

(4) The audits involved interviews and inspections of farms.

(5) Yes.

(6) No.

(7) Growers confirmed all information provided to auditors as being correct. Since the end of the 2010-11
season, CBH Group has stated there was effective segregation of non-GM canola from GM canola in
the season.

(8) No. The Department of Agriculture and Food WA made a commitment to the audited growers that they
would not be identified.

(9) No.