Genetically Modified (GM) Crops Legislation Change

Update 3 November 2020

GM free status denied for Adelaide Hills

Deputy Mayor Nathan Daniell said Adelaide Hills Council is disappointed the State Government failed to take a regional approach and understand the importance of protecting the Hills premium brand, while still allowing other areas of the state to grow GM crops should they wish to.

“The Adelaide Hills is renowned for producing world-class premium products, a reputation which has been fostered over many years. Remaining GM free would have protected this brand and maintained important market and trade advantages for our primary producers.”

“Council has followed the legislated process as dictated by the Minister’s directive, undertaking extensive consultation with industry, business and the community, and their message was clear – they want our region to remain GM free.”

“Over 75 per cent of our community indicated that Council should apply for GM free status and the key driver behind this message was to protect our brand, and the marketing and trade advantages that GM free status provides to our primary producers.”

“This is a significant opportunity lost as currently none of the three GM crops licenced in Australia are grown in the Adelaide Hills Council area, yet our producers will now lose the current branding and marketing opportunities GM free status has allowed us to develop. This amounts to a net economic detriment for our region. We’d also like State Government to demonstrate the value to our region of denying GM free status.”

“It is frustrating the State Government provided flexibility in the legislation for Councils to apply for GM free status but subsequently rejected all eleven applications despite our ability to outline the benefits remaining GM free would bring. This decision has effectively nullified our efforts and community wishes in this regard. It’s also important to recognise that once GM free status is lifted it’s not easy to reverse the detrimental impacts.”

“Our primary producers have already expressed a level of uncertainty and concern about this decision and the reputational damage it may cause, particularly with regards to export markets who favour organic and biodynamic produce.”

“Given the above, Adelaide Hills Council believes an exemption should be provided until such time as a net economic benefit could be more fully realised.”

You can read the full Council media release here.

Update 2 November 2020

Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development David Basham has decied that the GM moratorium will be lifted across mainland SA (KI is excluded).

“The GM Crop Advisory Committee assessed the 11 applications and deemed there wasn’t sufficient evidence to recommend designation as an area where no GM food crops can be grown. The Committee said individual businesses can maintain non-GM markets as occurs in other mainland states."

The 11 councils who unsuccessfully applied to have local GM moratoriums were Adelaide Hills Council, Alexandrina Council, Barossa Council, Berri Barmera Council, City of Onkaparinga, City of Playford, District Council of Yankalilla, Mount Barker District Council, City of Tea Tree Gully, Town of Gawler and City of Victor Harbor.

You can read the full SA Government media release here.

Council Consultation Outcomes

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to provide their feedback. Your comments were analysed and considered as part of Council's decision making and a full consultation report can be found here.

At its Ordinary Meeting on Tuesday 22 September 2020, Council unanimously decided to apply to the Minister for Primary Industries for the district to be desginated a non-GM crop area. Click here to read our full media release on this decision.

Project Overview

The moratorium on growing Genetically Modified (GM) crops in South Australia was lifted by the state government on 15 May 2020, except for Kangaroo Island.

For a short time, local councils can make a request to the Minister for Primary Industries & Regional Development to designate our council area as a non-GM crop area. If the Minister grants this status this would mean no GM crops could be grown in the district. However, if the Minister refuses the application then GM crops would be allowed to be grown in the district.

The state government has told us this is a once-off opportunity.

When making a decision, the Minister will only consider evidence related to the trade and marketing impact of GM crops.

This includes whether or not local food producers and manufacturers can demonstrate that their capacity to market and export their product would be affected by our area’s GM status, particularly those businesses who might be positively or negatively impacted by lack of or otherwise, of a GM Free Zone in the Adelaide Hills Council district.

The state government has advised that any councils who prepare a request to the Minister must complete community engagement which is directed at people engaged in primary production activities and food processing or manufacturing activities.

Note that Council has had a Policy position since 2012 seeking that the Adelaide Hills Council is a GM free area. However as a result of the state government lifting the moratorium on growing Genetically Modified (GM), the aforementioned Policy requires a review and your feedback will influence how this policy is reviewed.