Japanese GM hay rejection claim
Greens Senator Lyn MacLaren has claimed that a shipment of wheaten hay from WA was rejected by a Japanese buyer because it contained GM canola stubble.
It is believed the hay was cut from a frost-affected wheat crop at York, originally intended to produce grain.
Because hay cutting was not the original intention, the canola stubble was not removed prior to sowing through usual preparation methods, such as rolling or prickle chaining.
As a result, it is believed in recent weeks a Japanese importer rejected a shipment of GM canola-contaminated wheaten hay.
This in turn has led to concerns that Japan - one of WA's most important hay customers - could close its door to all WA-grown hay because of potential GM contamination.
At the most recent parliamentary sitting, Ms MacLaren questioned Agriculture Minister Ken Baston about a "growing crisis among WA farmers due to the stopping of wheaten hay exports to Japan".
Mr Baston responded by saying he was aware that an Australian consignment to Japan may have been rejected because of soil contamination.
Mr Baston said another consignment did have visible traces of canola, and that he was informed by his Department of Agriculture that the importer and exporter may not have agreed on pricing.
"Any load not meeting client specifications may be rejected or discounted for a range of reasons. I understand there is no specific discounted rate for growing wheat on GM stubble," Mr Baston said in response to Ms MacLaren's questions.
Gilmac Hay general manager Munro Patchett said the shipment in question was not exported by his company.
He said, in general, any hay contaminated with either GM or non-GM canola stubble would command a discount.
"These markets do not want any sort of contamination, the issue is not GM-specific," he said.
"It is still possible to sell hay with some types of contamination but there is usually a discount required."
Separately, a grower who did not wish to be named said he had been quoted that hay grown on non-GM canola stubble commanded a $30 per tonne discount, compared to a $70 per tonne discount for that grown on GM canola stubble.
Mr Patchett said the main markets for WA wheaten hay, namely Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, have not banned WA hay grown on GM canola stubble, though he said a small number of individual customers may have this prerequisite.
He said it is unlikely China would not accept any GM contamination in products, given its reaction to US alfalfa shipments containing GM products two years ago.
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