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IN THIS ISSUE
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Chairman's Report |
Sid Cowling
Chairman, OFA
'Organic Futures for Australia' - National Organic Conference Update |
OFA Website |
* Apologies if you received an unexpected email from OFA. Doing some bug fixes which sent out some backlogged emails.
Passing The Baton
After 15 months at the helm I have decided it is time to pass on the role of
OFA Website Manager. Nick Andrews, who has been very involved with the OFA for
some time, will now take over the role.
Nick will have the support of an enthusiastic group of new volunteers to help him maintain and develop the website. We are appreciative of the input they will contribute.
I am pleased to have been able to develop the website, and especially to have launched and expanded this monthly industry update, which has become established as an important industry resource. Readership has more than tripled in the time we have been publishing it, simply as a result of word of mouth and website subscriptions.
I will continue to offer support to Nick and the volunteers over the next couple of months, and I look forward to the growth resulting from so much new energy being put into the site.
The contact email for the OFA Website Manager will remain the same: webmaster@ofa.org.au
Seeking Contributions
Do you have something to contribute to this monthly update ? This is an industry
bulletin and we would like to encourage industry contribution to it. Product
reviews, company news, industry news, event reviews, information about upcoming
events, and feature articles are all welcome. Please send an email to webmaster@ofa.org.au
Update Your Directory Listing
The OFA directory is an important resource for the Australian community,
and world traders. A number of listings are displaying outdated or incomplete
information about the products or company. We recommend all readers whose business
is listed in the online directory or the printed directory to please check your
business listing and take steps to update the information. Please check even
if you think your business is not listed, it may well be. There are currently
around 2,000 entries.
Step 1: search for your listing by clicking
here
Step 2: send an email to webmaster@ofa.org.au
with the updated information
Add Your Event to the OFA Calendar
Did you know you can add your upcoming events, workshops, field days, etc. to
the OFA Events Calendar ? It's easy, go to http://www.ofa.org.au/magus/ofa.nsf/event!openForm
and enter your information then click submit. The OFA events calendar is the
most complete calendar of Australian organic events on the web. Don't let people
pass your event by. Listing is completely free so go for it.
As always, feedback about the OFA website and Organic Industry Update is encouraged.
Dom O'Brien
Website Manager
OFA Volunteers |
A very big thankyou. The response to our request in the last newsletter for OFA website volunteers has been excellent. It's great to see so many people passionate about our industry and keen to get involved. In the future we may offer volunteer roles in other areas of OFA activities so stay tuned for opportunities to play your part.
Dom O'Brien
OFA Website Manager
Agricultural Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority Issues Two Discussion Papers For Public Comment |
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GM Food Passes Labeling Tests |
Friday 1 August 2003
The food regulator, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), today released the results of an Australian pilot survey that shows that manufacturers in Australia are complying with the labelling standard for genetically modified (GM) food.
The standard requires any food, food ingredient or processing aid produced using gene technology and containing novel DNA and/or novel protein to be labelled as 'genetically modified'. This standard also allows up to 1% unintentional presence of GM food or ingredient in a final food.
All foods produced using gene technology must be safety assessed by FSANZ prior to release on to the market for human consumption. Hence, the labelling of GM food is not a safety issue, but one of consumer information. It enables consumers to make a choice about the food the wish or do not wish to eat.
In December 2000 the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Council (comprising Australian and New Zealand Health Ministers) agreed to a labelling standard for GM food that came into force in December 2001.
The Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council agrees that it is essential for consumers to have confidence that GM food is labelled in accordance with the standard and noted that all State and Territory governments have worked together on a small pilot survey to test a range of foods to determine whether they contained any GM material.
The 51 samples tested came from the commonly eaten foods containing soy or corn: soymilk (12), cornflakes (7), tacos (4), corn chips (13) and bread (15).
The survey found that all the samples tested complied with the GM labelling standard. The unapproved Starlink GM corn was not detected in any of the corn products tested. Where traces of GM material were found, these were from approved GM foods that have been rigorously assessed for safety by FSANZ.
From the 51 samples tested, 5 soymilk, 3 taco and 2 corn chip products were found to have small traces of GM material, well below the 1% unintentional presence permitted without being required to label.
New Zealand will publish the results of their compliance project within the next week, which shows very similar results to those found in the Australian survey. The UK Food Standards Agency (UK FSA) has also recently published a report on a UK GM survey. Only 8 of the 91 products surveyed by the UK FSA were found to contain GM material, but were below the UK's 1% 'adventitious presence' permitted threshold.
Consumers in Australia and New Zealand can feel confident that FSANZ is continuing to carry out safety assessments on genetically modified food to ensure that approved GM foods are as safe and nutritious as their conventional counterparts. Should a food not pass this safety assessment it will not be permitted for sale. To date 21 GM foods have been approved in Australia and New Zealand.
Media contact: Lydia Buchtmann, Food Standards Australia New Zealand 0411 268 525
SURVEY FACT SHEET
Questions and answers about the Survey
Who conducted the survey?
The survey was co-ordinated by the South Australian Department of Human
Services and was carried out in collaboration with other States and Territories.
What were they testing for?
The aim of the survey was to determine whether foods in Australia were complying
with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (Standard 1.5.2). The standard
requires labelling of any food, or food ingredient, including a processing aid
that is produced using gene technology and contains novel DNA, and/or novel
protein, or has altered characteristics. This food standard also allows for
the presence of up to 1% unintentional GM food in a food without being labelled
as such.
The corn chips and tacos were also tested for the presence of the unapproved Starlink GM corn.
What foods did they test?
As it wasn't possible to test every food on the shelves, the foods that
were most likely to have GM ingredients were tested. Worldwide, there were only
13 different crops that have GM varieties that are commercially grown and used
in the production of food and animal feeds. These are canola, chicory, cotton,
corn, flax/linseed, melon, papaya, potato, rice, soybean, squash, sugar beet
and tomato.
Of these, only six crops have GM varieties approved for use in food in Australia (canola, cotton, corn, potato, soybean, and sugar beet). Based on the size of commercial crop plantings worldwide, the extent to which crops are used in food and excluding highly refined oils, sugars and starches (which would not have to be labelled as they contain no novel DNA or protein), it was decided to focus on products containing soy and corn. The 51 samples chosen came from the following commonly eaten foods containing soy or corn: soy milk (12), cornflakes (7), tacos (4), corn chips (13) and bread (15). What did the survey find?
The survey found that all the samples tested complied with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. Starlink corn was not detected in any of the corn products tested.
Small traces of GM material were found in 10 of the 51 samples (5 soymilk, 3 taco and 2 corn chip samples). The GM material found was well below the 1% unintentional presence of GM food ingredients permitted in the standard before labelling is required. The four soymilks that were found to have small traces of GM material were labelled as being sourced from non-GM ingredients. The companies involved were informed that traces of GM material had been detected in their products. All claims on food labels are subject to the fair trading requirements in the jurisdiction in which they are sold: the Australian Trade Practices Act 1974, the State and Territory Food Acts, the Western Australian Health Act, and in New Zealand, the New Zealand Fair Trading Act 1986 and New Zealand Food Act 1981.
Documentation examined as part of the Australian survey shows that the companies making non-GM claims on soymilk intended to source from non-GM ingredients through reliance on identity preservation systems.
The survey also found that, in general, large food businesses had documentation or testing in place to show whether or not they used ingredients from non-GM sources. Smaller food businesses were less likely to have such systems in place. However, suppliers servicing large companies demanding non-GM ingredients would most likely be providing the same stock to small and medium enterprises.
What is an identity preservation system?
Identity preservation involves tracking systems that follow the product
>from the farm through all the stages of manufacture to the final food. For
non-GM ingredients, it allows certification, usually with around 99% accuracy,
that the food is sourced from non-GM crops.
While some of the soy products that contained GM traces were made from identity preserved non-GM soy, the low level of GM material detected was within the tolerance of the certified purity range.
The full Australian Pilot Survey of GM Food Labelling of Corn and Soy Food Products can be found on the Food Standards Australia New Zealand website www.foodstandards.gov.au or www.foodstandards.govt.nz.
New Food Watchdog Bans EU Countries From Being GM-Free |
by Sean Poulter
Daily Mail
9th July 2003
Nations and regions which want to stay free of genetically modified crops will be banned from doing so under a devastating ruling by EU scientists.
The decision, the first from the new European Food Safety Authority, means governments will be unable to stop the controversial plants being grown on their soil - effectively opening the floodgates.
It is a disastrous blow to those British consumers, farmers, politician and green campaigners who are fearful about the safety of so-called Frankenstein foods.
The administrations in Scotland and Wales and many English local authorities - particularly in the South West - oppose GM crops.
Last night, Greenpeace warned Britain was being dragged into a vast and unpredictable experiment. Once commercial planting of GM crops is allowed, their pollen will spread and contaminate the entire countryside.
Former environment minister Michael Meacher has warned of gaping holes in our knowledge about the effect of GM on human health and the countryside. He has raised the possibility of damage to the immune system, sexual development and the stomach lining. There are also concerns about new allergies.
Separately, there are worries that GM pollen will taint conventional and organic farms. And research has pointed to the creation of superweeds.
Mr Meacher has called on the Government to postpone or ban commercial growing of GM crops here.
However, an EFSA scientific panel has now decided these are not sufficient reasons for any EU nation or region to choose GM free-status.
The ruling is on an application by Upper Austria to be declared a GM-free zone for all existing GM crops or animals. The rejection of the application - to be officially published tomorrow - sets a precedent across Europe.
In effect, it means a farmer or biotech company will be allowed to grow GM crops virtually anywhere in the EU, regardless of public fears or political opposition.
Yesterday, Greenpeace called into question the independence of EFSA and its GM science panel. The chief executive is British civil servant Geoffrey Podger who was previously in charge of the pro-GM Food Standards Agency here. The British Government, which from Tony Blair down is seen as supporting GM, was consulted on who should represent this country on the EU's GM panel.
Two of those chosen are GM enthusiasts - Professor Mike Gasson, of the Institute of Food Research in Norfolk and Professor Jeremy Sweet, of the National Institute of Agricultural Botany, Cambridge. Greenpeace GM campaigner Nathan Argent said: "Once again, Tony Blair's science cronies have shown how determined they are to force this unwanted technology down our throats. Our countryside is being forced to take part in an unwanted and unpredictable environmental experiment. Whatever happened to choice"?
But Professor Sweet said those who raise social or moral objections to GM are "just muddying the waters". He rejected the health warnings raised by Mr. Meacher and others saying: "There has to be an acceptance of the integrity of the science".
An EU moratorium on new GM crops was lifted last week under pressure from the US. Biotech firms such as Monsanto, are pressing ahead with applications to grow GM oilseed rape, maize, beet, potatoes and other crops.
The first could go into commercial cultivation in Britain and across Europe
as early as next spring.
Education Sector Report - By Education Representative Cheryl Kemp |
The Education group of OFA,
Cheryl Kemp, Liz Clay and Andre Lue met in Cairns at the OPAQ Conference with
Jude Nettleingham, Project Manager of the Rural Training Council of Australia
(RTCA).
The RTCA has received funding from the Australian National Training Authority
to add 10 new sectors to the recently endorsed Rural Production Training Package
- Organics being one of the sectors.
Their aim is to work with the Organic Peak Industry Body, to develop an Industry
Reference Group help to develop the training for the Organic Package.
As there has already been an Organic Module developed through NSW TAFE (Michael
Williams), and East Gippsland, RTCA is happy to work with us to update the course
and rewrite into RTCA requirements. Then the OFA Industry Reference Group has
to disseminate this work to all involved in the Organic, Biodynamic,TAFE, Certifiers,
Trainers of the Industry all over Australia asking for comment and to sign off
on the final package.
If you are involved in any aspect of the Training in Organics and Biodynamics
and TAFE and Agricultural Colleges and would like some input, please email Cheryl
Kemp, Convenor of the OFA Education Committee cheryl@biodynamics.net.au
and we will endeavour to keep you involved in this process.
In Jan 02, The OFA and Biodynamic Agriculture Australia and TAFE NSW put in
a combined application to AFFA- AAA- FarmBis National for funding for Training
the Trainers - so that Organic and BD Trainers can be accredited via OFA to
teach the Organics and BD Courses in Australia as per requirements of the TAFE
Organics course and the OFA Strategic Rural Plan.
A further application was requested and put into AFFA in October 02, and on
July 3, 2003, a letter was received from Minister for Agriculture Hon Warren
Truss notifying us that the application was unsuccessful, but encouraging us
to get together with other parts of the Organic Industry who had also applied
for funding in this area to develop an overall Industry Training program.
The Govt would consider supporting the Organic training Industry up to $100,000
during 2003-June 2004. At present we are negotiating to develop this overall
broad application across all sectors and producers in the Australian organic
and biodynamic agriculture industry.
Cheryl Kemp
Convenor, OFA Education Committee
Phone /Fax : 02 6657 5322
Home: 02 6657 5306
email: cheryl@biodynamics.net.au
Australian Farmers' Market Association Website Near Ready |
Look out for the the new Australian Farmers' Market Association website due to be launched later this month. For the first time farmers and shoppers who want to know more about the farmers' market movement, and most importantly where to sell or shop for farm-fresh and artisan food will be able to locate their nearest market.
The site will also post news items and media coverage on Australia's vibrant farmers' market scene.
The address will be www.farmersmarkets.org.au
For more information contact Jane Adams at jacom@bigpond.net.au
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These are just some of the events listed in the OFA events calendar for this month. Please Send details of your events to webmaster@ofa.org.au or enter them yourself here |
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Click here for details of these and other events.
| You will find more OFA and other industry services in the links below. |
Organic Newsline - Weekly International Organic News Bulletin
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The OFA is the peak industry body for the Australian organic and biodynamic industry. Visit our webpage at www.ofa.org.au, or for organic industry and product enquiries click here . For information or help with this newsletter contact the OFA webmaster at webmaster@ofa.org.au. Feedback is always welcome !
DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the OFA.
