Tas study shows GM regrowth rare

The latest audit of genetically modified crop sites in Tasmania has shown 60 per cent of sites have remained free of re-growth after more than nine months.

In the third audit of 57 canola sites across the state, the Tasmanian government and Federal Office of the Gene Technology Regulator representatives found no plants on 34 sites and at least one seedling on 23 sites, all of which were subsequently destroyed.

The auditors recorded no flowering plants at any of the sites.

In a statement, Tasmanian Primary Industries, Water and Environment Minister David Llewellyn said the results were encouraging.

"Until we can be satisfied that the GM plant material is not re-germinating, audit investigations of previous sites will continue," Llewellyn said.

It is understood that Tasmania's dry autumn had probably also factored into the low re-growth rate at the sites.

A spokeswoman for Aventis CropScience, which is responsible for 49 of the sites, said far from preferring no presence of the canola, the company encouraged the plants to germinate so that they could be destroyed.

"The key thing for us is to encourage the plants to germinate because that the best way to get rid of them," public affairs manager Naomi Stevens said.

"It is then a matter of trying to deplete seeds on the site before they get to the mature stage and achieve flowering and the audit is showing that is being effective."

Stevens said that in addition to the government audits, Aventis made a minimum of monthly visits to each of the sites - a ritual that would continue for another three years in accordance with its licence requirements.

She said if further visits were required, sites were monitored on a weekly or daily basis.

In the first round of audits, conducted last September last year, one or more flowering plants were found at four of the former crop trial sites, while 24 sites had non-flowering plants and 29 sites with none.

The second audit, in January, found one or more flowering plants at seven sites, non-flowering plants at 12 sites and none at 38 sites.

Public comment on poppy release Meanwhile, the OGTR has issued a notice calling for public comment on an application, lodged by the CSIRO, for the controlled release of GM oilseed poppy in Tasmania.

The application relates to release of the plant in an area of about 0.21 hectares in the Meander Valley municipality.

People wanting more information or who wish to submit a comment on the application are invited to contact the OGTR on 1800 181 030 or via e-mail on ogtr@health.gov.au.