THE state’s moratorium on growing genetically-modified crops has officially been extended to 2025, with SA parliament’s House of Assembly passing a Greens bill this afternoon.
Previously tabled and passed in the Legislative Council, Greens MLC Mark Parnell’s Genetically modified crops management regulations (Postponement of expiry) Bill won the support of the Labor government, and Premier Jay Weatherill’s majority ensured the extension’s safe passage through the Lower House.
The move means SA will remain the only mainland state with a ban on GM crops for at least the next seven years, unless both houses of state parliament vote to overturn the moratorium.
In celebrating the bill’s passage through the Lower House, Mr Parnell said the moratorium had delivered a “significant price premium” for local growers compared with GM crops grown in other states.
He said being the only GM-free mainland state was “a significant advantage to SA’s food industry”.
