Communiqué – 19 May 2017
ABCA Communiqué #6 – 19 May 2017
Ken Matthews AO| Chairman
BEc(Sydney) DUniv(Flinders) FAIM FIPAA FTSE
The Agricultural Biotechnology Council of Australia (ABCA) met in Canberra on 19 May 2017. The theme for the meeting was the importance of effective, science-based, low level presence policies.
Low level presence (LLP) refers to the unintended presence, at low levels, of minute amounts of genetically modified (GM) plant material that has been approved in at least one country but not necessarily in the importing country.
The agriculture and food industry and the scientific community recognise the nature of biological systems and the practical limitations of supply chains. The potential for LLP occurs when importing countries maintain impractical zero tolerance import policies for GM products not yet approved. This represents a critical trade policy issue that has the potential to impact the Australian agricultural sector.
The Council today received presentations on a range of LLP associated issues by senior Australian Government officials and industry representatives.
ABCA encourages that all policy approaches from governments to deal with LLP incidents and any other related agricultural biotechnology matters are based on peer-reviewed and evidence-based science. ABCA also supports the Global LLP Initiative to negotiate arrangements to manage international trade potentially affected by LLP to be based on facts.
The Council also received briefings on state government moratoria and the review of the gene technology regulations.
For more information on Council activities and broader information about the sector, visit the ABCA website (www.abca.com.au).
About ABCA
The Agricultural Biotechnology Council of Australia Limited (ABCA) is the national coordinating organisation for the Australian agricultural biotechnology sector and was established to pursue recognition of the current and potential benefits of agricultural biotechnology. Working broadly across the agriculture sector, ABCA is committed to providing quality, factual, science-based information about gene technology in agriculture. ABCA is chaired by Mr Ken Matthews AO who was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2001 for services to public administration and appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for services to regional communities, the national transport system and for his contribution to public administration in Australia.
Agricultural Biotechnology Council of Australia is a Company Limited by Guarantee with three supporting members: AusBiotech, CropLife Australia and the National Farmers’ Federation Ltd. The ABCA Council members are the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Ag Institute of Australia, Animal Medicines Australia, AusBiotech, Australian Oilseeds Federation, Cotton Australia, CropLIfe Australia, Grain Growers, Grain Trade Australia, Grains Research and Development Corporation, National Farmers Federation, and Science and Technology Australia.