GE grain into Newcastle

Contamination warning as GE grain arrives

Greenpeace says Australian crops could be at risk now the first imported shipment of genetically engineered (GE) canola has arrived in Newcastle on the New South Wales central coast.

Although the Federal Government has backed a trial of genetically engineered canola, the states have declared a moratorium on GE food.

Greenpeace's genetic engineering campaigner Lousie Sales says the shipment could threaten the GE-free status that has helped Australian farmers get good prices for their canola overseas. She says there is a serious risk of contamination from the shipment.

"That's what we've seen from Japan, where Japan's imported canola from Canada," she said.

"We've seen widespread contamination along ports and along major transport routes where GE canola's basically grown wild by the side of the road and we're concerned that there's going to be a contamination risk in Australia and Australia's GE-free status will be at risk."