Australia Can Permit GMO in Organic Food: Reports

The uncontrolled GM contamination has achieved such levels that even organic products cannot be considered 100 percent pure any more. Australian natural and biodynamic food producers can lose their organic certification if the current restrictive legislation is not modified.

MOSCOW, December 17 (Sputnik) — The Australian Certified Organic (ACO) has filed an application with the country's Organic Industry Standards and Certification Council (OISCC) to permit crops with low degrees of genetically modified (GM) contamination to retain their organic certification, The Guardian reported Wednesday.

The newspaper said that according to Australia's current agricultural standards, any crops that include even a small amount of GM substances are automatically stripped of their organic certification.

A previous claim lodged with the OISCC by the West Australian Department of Agriculture has complained that the policy of forbidding any GM material in organic products is a discouragement for companies producing organic and biodynamic products, The Guardian said.

The newspaper added that the ACO's claim will be considered in February 2015. If approved, Australia's agriculture laws would mirror that of the European Union and the United States, where regulations allow for a certain level of GM contamination in food products. The move would also protect organic farmers whose products may lose their organic certification due to accidental GM contamination.