Regulation of GM Crops

Legislation is in place to control the cultivation of genetically modified crops in South Australia.

Section 5 of the Genetically Modified Crops Management Act 2004 (external site) enables, by regulation:

  • the designation of areas of the State in which genetically modified food crops of a specified class must not be cultivated
  • the designation of areas of the State in which no genetically modified food crops may be cultivated
  • the designation of an area of the State as an area in which a genetically modified food crop must not be cultivated unless it is a genetically modified food crop of a specified class
  • the designation an area of the State as the only part of the State in which genetically modified food crops of a specified class may be cultivated.

The Genetically Modified Crops Management (Designation of Areas) Regulations 2008, made under the Act, designate the whole of the state of South Australia as an area in which no genetically modified food crops may be cultivated.

Exemption Notices

The Act enables the Minister to issue Exemption Notices for the limited scale cultivation of GM food crops, including experimental crops in areas where the cultivation of GM crops is otherwise prohibited under section 4 or 5 of the Act.

Exemption Notices will have conditions attached for the thorough containment of the cultivated GM crop to ensure that local production and supply chains are unaffected.

The Act also provides for authorised officers from the Department of Primary Industries and Recources SA to monitor compliance with these conditions of operation.

All Exemption Notices issued are published in the SA Government Gazette and are listed in the Register of Exemption Notices Issued for GM Crops in South Australia.