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The Australian government must introduce strict liability laws to protect non-GE crops from contamination.
Under current law, a non-GE farmer whose land or crop has been contaminated must initiate a lawsuit and bears the onus of proving that harm has been caused by another farmer.
Under a 'strict product liability' regime, the company that stands to gain from its product (such as Monsanto) also bears the risks should any harm occur. If contamination occurs, if crops are lost, if economic damage is shown, it is the biotech companies that are liable for those costs.
State moratoria on the release of GE crops in Australia should be upheld and extended. The moratoria are as follows:
If people do not know which foods are derived from GE, they cannot exercise their right to reject it. Considering the huge opposition to GE foods, minimal labelling could be interpreted as a deliberate attempt to force GE foods onto consumers.
Knowing that consumers reject GE food, many food companies have only taken measures to exclude GE in forms that do not require labelling. Some food companies also falsely label their products ‘GE-free’ or ‘non-GE'.
We demand mandatory labelling of all GE-derived ingredients to force companies to label honestly, and thus encourage them to remove GE from all stages of the food chain.
Under current law, a non-GE farmer whose land or crop has been contaminated must initiate a lawsuit and bears the onus of proving that harm has been caused by another farmer.
Under a 'strict product liability' regime, the company that stands to gain from its product (such as Monsanto) also bears the risks should any harm occur. If contamination occurs, if crops are lost, if economic damage is shown, it is the biotech companies that are liable for those costs.
Moratoria
State moratoria on the release of GE crops in Australia should be upheld and extended. The moratoria are as follows:
- Victoria – 3 year moratorium expires in May 2007
- NSW – 2 year moratorium expires in May 2008
- WA – 5 year moratorium expires in 2008
- SA – 3 year moratorium expires in 2007
- Tas – 5 year moratorium expires in 2008
Labelling laws
If people do not know which foods are derived from GE, they cannot exercise their right to reject it. Considering the huge opposition to GE foods, minimal labelling could be interpreted as a deliberate attempt to force GE foods onto consumers.
Knowing that consumers reject GE food, many food companies have only taken measures to exclude GE in forms that do not require labelling. Some food companies also falsely label their products ‘GE-free’ or ‘non-GE'.
We demand mandatory labelling of all GE-derived ingredients to force companies to label honestly, and thus encourage them to remove GE from all stages of the food chain.
