Membership of the Committee

Members

Senator Sue Knowles, Chairman	LP, Western Australia
Senator Brian Greig, Deputy Chairman	AD, Western Australia
Senator Guy Barnett	LP, Tasmania
Senator Kay Denman	ALP, Tasmania
Senator Gary Humphries	LP, Australian Capital Territory
Senator Steve Hutchins	ALP, New South Wales

Participating members

Senator Bob Brown	AG, Tasmania
Senator Michael Forshaw	ALP, New South Wales

Truth in food labelling bill 2003 Report

The Inquiry

1.1 The Truth in Food Labelling Bill 2003 (the Bill) was introduced into the Senate on 13 October 2003 by Senator Bob Brown, Australian Greens, Tasmania. On 29 October 2003, the Senate, on the recommendation of the Selection of Bills Committee (Report No. 14 of 2003), referred the Bill to the Committee for report.

1.2 The Committee considered the Bill at a public hearing on 4 March 2004. Details of the public hearing are referred to in Appendix 2. The Committee received 583 submissions relating to the Bill and these are listed at Appendix 1. A number of the submissions may be accessed through the Committee’s website at https://www.aph.gov.au/senate_ca

The Bill

1.3 The purpose of the Bill is to provide for a comprehensive food labelling system in Australia that will require the labelling of all foods derived from gene technology and not just those foods that still have detectable levels of genetically modified (GM) protein or DNA left after processing.[1]

1.4 The Bill is the result of a Trans-Tasman link-up between Greens Members of Parliament (MPs) in Australia and New Zealand. An almost identical Bill has been introduced in the New Zealand Parliament by Ms Sue Kedgley, MP, Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand.

1.5 The proposed legislation is based on the concept that consumers have the right to sufficient, accurate and meaningful information on a label to enable them to make informed food purchasing decisions.

1.6 The Bill proposes that all GM derived foods, ingredients, flavourings and additives would have to be labelled, irrespective of whether there is DNA or protein of GM origin in the final product. The following foods are exempted from the provisions of sections 10 and 11 of the Bill which cover this matter:

All meat, milk, eggs obtained from animals treated with GM veterinary products, or fed GM food;
Food produced with the help of GM enzymes;
Takeaway foods and restaurant meals.

1.7 The Bill also proposes that the threshold for labelling foods that are inadvertently contaminated with GM material would be lowered from 1% to 0.5%. The threshold for non-approved GM material would remain at its current level of zero.

1.8 The proposed legislation would require animal feed derived from GM material to be labelled for the first time. It would also ensure that GMOs can be traced at all stages in the production, distribution and marketing chain which would enable authorities to keep track of all GM material that enters the food chain and trace GM food ingredients and foods from the moment of their inception through the processing stage. This would ensure that producers could prove that they have taken all appropriate steps to avoid such contamination.

1.9 The Bill also requires the Minister to implement a monitoring plan that would enable the tracing of any direct or indirect unforeseen effects on human health or the environment of GM food or feed after it has been placed on the market.

1.10 The legislation proposes that the country of origin of all packaged meat, fish, fruit and vegetables placed on the market in Australia be clearly identified. All unpackaged meat, fish, fruit and vegetables, including bulk foods, would be required to have the country of origin identified at the point of display for sale. Exemptions to this requirement would be meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables which constitute less than 20 per cent of a product.

Issues

1.11 A large number of submissions were received supporting the proposed legislation. The majority of these submissions were from residents of New Zealand and were of a very similarly worded 'standardised' nature.

1.12 Some peak organisations expressed strong support for the existing legislation and regulation which they consider ensures that any GM crop or food is rigorously assessed for its impact on human health, and that existing food labelling requirements ensure that consumers have information available to enable them to make informed choices. They therefore considered that the proposed legislation was unnecessary. Avcare expressed the view that:

The strength of the current Australian legislation in relation to the labelling of foods as GM is that it links labelling to presence of DNA and protein in the final food. There is a defined threshold that a competent laboratory can test for in the final food. The standard is therefore enforceable, without reference to documentation and the records of growers and food manufacturers. This emphasis on product and not process is a positive attribute of the current labelling regime.[2]

1.13 The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) stated that it did not support the proposed legislation because 'it is not based on sound science and evidence of risk to public health and safety'. The AFGC believed that the existing regulations provided confidence in the regulatory safeguards governing the development, release and labelling of products made using gene technology.[3]

1.14 The opinion was expressed by Bayer CropScience that the present regulatory system for the regulation of food substances, including the labelling of foods, is one of the best in the world and that the proposed legislation would introduce additional costs for industry without providing anything of benefit to the consumer.[4]

1.15 The South Australian Minister for Health, who is a member of the Australia New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council (ANZFRMC), believes that the existing Food Standards Code Standard 1.5.2 – Food Produced Using Gene Technology represents a practical and workable standard for the regulation of GM food labelling.[5]

1.16 Avcare submitted that Standard 1.5.2 of the Food Standards Code prescribes the labelling of genetically modified food where:

novel DNA and/or protein is present in the final food; and
where the food has altered characteristics.

The following are exempt from these requirements:

highly refined food where the effect of the refining process is to remove novel DNA and/or protein;
processing aids and food additives except those where novel DNA and/or protein is present in the final food;
flavours which are present in a concentration less than or equal to 0.1% in the final food; and
food prepared at the point of sale.

Also exempt from GM labelling are ingredients where they contain up to 1% of genetically modified material where its presence is unintended. This threshold has been set based on FSANZ review of international literature in relation to health, safety and monitoring.[6]

1.17 Avcare also pointed out that the Food Standards Code is complemented by provisions in the Trade Practices Act which ensures food manufacturers and retailers provide accurate information to consumers.[7]

1.18 The Committee's attention was also drawn to the fact that when Standard 1.5.2 was approved it was noted that the ANZFRMC should be:

...mindful of international developments and that there would be a review by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) three years from the date the Standard was gazetted in December 2000. Consequently the existing GM labelling requirements are currently under review with the final report to be present to the ANZFRMC in early 2004.[8]

1.19 Some submissions noted that Australia has an exceptional record in the analysis and reporting of chemical residues and contaminants of food products through the National Residue Survey. The Australian Total Diet Survey also provides publicly available information on residues.[9]

1.20 Greenpeace, however, considered that the current system of labelling does not provide sufficient information for consumers to be fully informed, as they believe is their right. They referred to a recent survey by Biotechnology Australia which showed that public concern over genetic engineering is increasing and covers a wide range of environmental impacts.

1.21 Greenpeace raised the issue of full traceability and argued that a number of food companies are not willing to label their products as genetically engineered (GE) saying that the public do not want them, but they are moving beyond that and are removing GE from their whole supply chain including animal feed. Greenpeace stated that it would be easier for these companies if there was labelling of animal feed in the supply chains so that they could then make clear requests to their suppliers.[10]

1.22 With regard to traceability, Avcare advised the Committee that the Gene Technology Grains Committee principles provide a system to establish traceability for GM canola grown in Australia. The principles bring together quality assurance at each state of the supply chain so as to ensure product integrity that meets market specifications.[11]

1.23 The Committee also discussed the new labelling requirements to be introduced shortly in the European Union (EU). Greenpeace claimed that, in their opinion, the EU was basically moving to a full traceability system that would require any product derived from a GE crop to be labelled, though it stops short of requiring that products from animals that have been fed GE crops need to be labelled.[12]

1.24 Ms Sue Kedgley, MP, Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand informed the Committee that New Zealand farmers had not expressed concern about possible government requirements of carrying out a traceability regime because of the fact that the majority do not grow GE food. However, the situation would be that if they intended to export produce to Europe the new EU regulations would require them to include labelling and traceability of the products they exported.[13]

1.25 When questioned concerning organic foods on supermarket shelves and food regulation in Australia Avcare responded:

Senator Brown – Are you aware that that is regulated right from the farm gate through to the supermarket shelves?

Mr Gauchat – I would argue that in Australia that would not be the case. Maybe in some other markets it is.

Senator Brown – So you are saying that the organic food that we get ...there is not a traceability factor to it?

Mr Gauchat – I am saying that there is an export standard, which is world class, but there are not the same domestic standards.[14]

1.26 The Stock Feed Manufacturers' Council of Australia (SFMCA) submitted that:

The global feed industry has recognised that it is part of the food chain and as such has responded positively to the increasing demands placed upon food suppliers. Food safety issues, particularly those originating within Europe have resulted in increased levels of quality assurance within the feed industry.[15]

1.27 The SFMCA stated that within Australia the stockfeed industry has been working proactively to ensure the industry maintains its high level of compliance with all issues relating to food safety. For instance, in 2003 a national quality assurance program known as FeedSafe was introduced which is based upon a Code of Good Manufacturing Practice. This Code was developed in conjunction with the Chief Veterinary Officers in the Commonwealth Government and each of the State and Territory governments.

1.28 The Code of Good Manufacturing Practice has the following objectives:

To protect the health of the human consumer of food products derived from livestock fed on prepared stock feeds.
To protect the health of livestock and to enable livestock producers to achieve expected levels of performance by delivering stock feed of consistent quality to animals.
To contribute to the delivery of livestock products of consistent and appropriate quality to the end consumer.

1.29 SFMCA also informed the Committee that the introduction of FeedSafe has been initiated voluntarily by the industry and reinforces the industry's commitment to maintaining a supply of safe feed and food products.[16]

Recommendation

1.30 The Committee reports to the Senate that it has considered the Truth in Food Labelling Bill 2003 and recommends that the Bill not proceed.

Senator Sue Knowles

Chairman

March 2004

Dissenting Report - BY Senator Bob Brown, Australian Greens

Why the Bill should be endorsed

The Committee's report made the following points which support the Bill being endorsed by the Senate:

Consumers have a right to know if food for sale has derived from genetically modified stock.
This right granted in the bill is not met by current legislation. There is growing public concern about GMO impacts on the environment.
To explain this further, many consumers do not want to buy foods (eg canola oil, margarine) which comes from GMO crops, even if there is no food contamination, because the consumers are aware of major scientific concerns about the impact of GMO crops on the land, other crops and natural ecosystems.
Stronger European Union laws will mean Australian and New Zealand food exports will require traceability and tougher labelling laws. It is daft not to have at least equal domestic standards on food labelling to those required for exports. Australia and New Zealand consumers deserve world's best standards.

The bill should proceed.

Senator Bob Brown

Appendix 1 - Submissions received by the Committee

1	Hamill, Ms Sue (NZ)
2	Richards, Mr Don (NZ)
3	Clements, Ms Anna
4	Pulham, Bryan & Chalmers, Ms Elizabeth (NZ)
5	Hannah, Ms Lynda (NZ)
6	Newby, Ms Karen
7	Purnell, Mr Scott & Ms Lisa
8	Simon, Mr Michael & Ms Gisela
9	Carnachan, Mr Hamish
10	Flett, Mhairi (NZ)
11	Laing, Ms Debbie (NZ)
12	Brine, Ms Joan C (SA)
13	Cochrane, Mr Phillip (NZ)
14	Speizer, Mr Imre (NZ)
15	Higgins, Ms Margaret (SA)
16	Wall, Ms Nicola
17	Cole, Mr Josh
18	Hornby, Ms Rachel (SA)
19	Cattey, Ms Grace (NZ)
20	Higgins, Ms Leanne (SA)
21	Bramhall, Dr Stuart (NZ)
22	Oliver, Mr Ryan (NZ)
23	Penning, Mr Michael (SA)
24	Clayton, Mrs Maria (NZ)
25	Owers, Ms Nicky (NZ)
26	Bayer CropScience (VIC)
27	Vickery, Ms Kristy
28	Elwell-Sutton, Mr Paul (NZ)
29	Penning, H (SA)
30	French, Shari & Wood, Anthony (NZ)
31	Ough, Ms Jane (NZ)
32	Singh, Ms Vidya (NZ)
33	Tomes, Marilyn (NZ)
34	Grant, Ms Carol (NZ)
35	Austring, Ms Diana (NZ)
36	Prince, Ms Kylie (NZ)
37	O’Callaghan, Ms Sharon (NZ)
38	Muller, Mr Jon (NZ)
39	Brown, Mr Derek (NZ)
40	Platt, Mr Grant (NZ)
41	Carapiet, Mr Jon (NZ)
42	Buchler, Ms Marie (NZ)
43	Holley, Mr Alex (NZ)
44	Bean, Ms Glenys (NZ)
45	Hurley, Ms Charlotte (NZ)
46	Metuamate Tuatini, Areti (NZ)
47	Buck, Ms Donna (NZ)
48	Smith, Mr Warren & Ms Sharon (NZ)
49	Lehwenz Family (NZ)
50	Reisinger, Mr Thomas (NZ)
51	Ray, Ms Janet (NZ)
52	Higgins, Ms Madeleine (NZ)
53	Hughes, Mr Bob (NZ)
54	Reid, Ms Amanda (NZ)
55	Inglis, Mr Kent (NZ)
56	Roesch, Ms Joan & Mr Henry (NZ)
57	Miller, Ms Leah (NZ)
58	Rodgers, Mr Peter and Rodgers, Mrs Nicholas (NZ)
59	Davidson, Ms Ange (NZ)
60	Sorrenson, Ms Amanda (NZ)
61	Hein-Patrik, C (NZ)
62	Anderson, Mr Phil (NZ)
63	Dewar, Ms Kath (NZ)
64	McKee, Mr Billy (NZ)
65	Rouse, Mr David (NZ)
66	Morrison, Mr Chris (NZ)
67	Newton, Mr John (NZ)
68	Chalmers, Jesse (NZ)
69	Barton, Dr Mels (NZ)
70	Baragwanath, Mr Paul (NZ)
71	Simpson, Dr Kenneth (NZ)
72	Parkins, Kerry (NZ)
73	Benseman, Ms Julie (NZ)
74	Green, Mr Richard (NZ)
75	McCree, Mr M (NZ)
76	Scott, Mr Mike and Shotton, Ms Sue (NZ)
77	Kirkham, Ms Hazel (NZ)
78	Rogan, Mr Bruce (NZ)
79	Phippen, Ms Christine (NZ)
80	Griffin, Ms Francisca (NZ)
81	Collins, Ms Meg (NZ)
82	Smith, Mr Graham (NZ)
83	James, Mrs Lyn (NZ)
84	Sturrock, Mr Campbell (NZ)
85	Harris, Mr Ken & Harris, Ms Jenny (NZ)
86	Mullins, Ms Paula (NZ)
87	Metcalfe, Ms Thelma (NZ)
88	Nicolau, Ms Margot (NZ)
89	Judge, Mr Steve (NZ)
90	Burnside, Ms Gretta (NZ)
91	Bracey, Ms Robyn (NZ)
92	Allen, Ms Caroline (NZ)
93	Gates, Mr Brendan (NZ)
94	NZ Health Limited (NZ)
95	NZ Health Trust (NZ)
96	Sloan, Mr Dave (NZ)
97	Dick, Ms Lesley (NZ)
98	VEF Charitable Trust (NZ)
99	NZ Essentials Limited (NZ)
100	Ellis, Mr Robert (NZ)
101	MyHealth Limited (NZ)
102	Kruhlak, Mr Robert (NZ)
103	Day, Ms Suzanne (NZ)
104	Anderson, Ms Sandra (NZ)
105	Gruner, Dr Ingrid (NZ)
106	Chignell, Mr Bevan (NZ)
107	Iseke, Mr Franz & Ms Maria (NZ)
108	Gwynn, Ms Margaret (NZ)
109	Devcich, Ms Anita (NZ)
110	Baylis, Mr Anthony (NZ)
111	Howard, Ms Helen (NZ)
112	Bergersen, Ms Diana & Mr John (NZ)
113	Beverley, Ms Johanna (NZ)
114	Harrow, Ms Mary (NZ)
115	Zwaan, Ms Monique (NZ)
116	Curnow, Ms Esther (NZ)
117	Basker-Lowe, Ms Jill (NZ)
118	Owen, Mr Dawson & McLennan, Ms Ruth (NZ)
119	Cook, Ms Jane (NZ)
120	Stevenson, Mr Stewart (NZ)
121	Jorgensen, Ms Rosemary (NZ)
122	MacKenzie, Ms Tracey (NZ)
123	Proctor, Mr Rex (NZ)
124	Foster, Ms Penelope (NZ)
125	de Smit, Mr Andrew (NZ)
126	Sparks, Ms Jane (NZ)
127	Elworthy, Ms Fiona (NZ)
128	Cromie, Mrs Alastair (NZ)
129	Lauria, Mr Salvatore (NZ)
130	Telfer, Ms Vivienne (NZ)
131	O’Brien, Ms Patsy (NZ)
132	Wrighton, Mr Ben (NZ)
133	Kydd, Ms Jeni (NZ)
134	Pates, Ms Catherine (NZ)
135	Congregational Leaders’ Conference of Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ)
136	Neighbours, Mr Colin (NZ)
137	Wicks, Ms Nola (NZ)
138	Vickers, Mr Alistair (NZ)
139	Mead, Dr Graham (NZ)
140	Brooks, Ms Jocelyn (NZ)
141	Sparks, Ms Dianne (NZ)
142	Brown, Ms Cherie (NZ)
143	Andringa, Mr Siets (NZ)
144	Trotter, Ms Liesl (NZ)
145	Baragwanath, Dr Lucy (NZ)
146	Hislop, Ms Ana (NZ)
147	Parker, Ms Sarah (NZ)
148	Collins, Ms Cath (NZ)
149	Prince, Mr Don (NZ)
150	Dymond, Rev Michael (NZ)
151	Vickers, Ms Amanda (NZ)
152	Baldwin, Mr Alan (NZ)
153	Pearl, Ms Amare (NSW)
154	Barr, mr Tremane (NZ)
155	Lissaman, Ms Claire (NZ)
156	Anderson, Dr Robert (NZ)
157	Smith, Ms Anita (NZ)
158	Tankard, Ms kerry (NZ)
159	Marjorbanks, Mr Ewen (NZ)
160	Bateson, Mr Liston (NZ)
161	Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society Waitakere Branch (NZ)
162	Aylward, Ms Margaret (NZ)
163	Beecroft, Mr Brian (NZ)
164	Watson, Ms Leah (NZ)
165	Beecroft, Ms Patricia (NZ)
166	Marriner, Mr Darryl (NZ)
167	Volker, Mr Peter (NZ)
168	Huxholl, Mr Heinz
169	Stephen, Ms Rosemary (NZ)
170	Doherty, Mr Greg (NZ)
171	Smith, Ms Carolyn (NZ)
172	Hill, Ms Elizabeth (NZ)
173	Wilson, Ms Jeanette Carter, Mr Andrew James Carter, Ms Sarah Carter, Mr Liam Carter, Ms Mary Chancellor, Lee (NZ)
174	Jennings, Ms Celia (NZ)
175	Rodgers, Mr Alex (NZ)
176	Rodgers, Ms Jill (NZ)
177	Rodgers, Ms Sandy (NZ)
178	Rodgers, Mr Michael (NZ)
179	Rodgers, Ms Rebecca (NZ)
180	Rodgers, Ms Samantha (NZ)
181	Green, Ms Cynthia (NZ)
182	Annan, Ms Meg (NZ)
183	Gard’ner, Brendan and Family (NZ)
184	Keith, KB (NZ)
185	Eskelsen, Ms Dawn (NZ)
186	Schloemer, Dr Volker (NZ)
187	Klein, Mr Hugh (NZ)
188	Gannaway, Ms Noeline (NZ)
189	Taylor-Bell, Ms Jean (NZ)
190	Bell, Ms Heather (NZ)
191	Onderwater, R (NZ)
192	Taylor, Ms Janene (NZ)
193	Donaldson, Ms Gabriella (NZ)
194	Baron, Mr Steve (NZ)
195	Butler, Ms Maria (NZ)
196	Haskins, Ms Amanda (NZ)
197	Sinclair, Ms Libby (NZ)
198	Badger, Mrs Zenda (NZ)
199	Poff-Pencole, Ms Isabelle (NZ)
200	Poff, Mr Joseph (NZ)
201	Pronk, Ms Melissa (NZ)
202	Sullivan, Ms Denise (NZ)
203	Meyer, Mr Greg (NZ)
204	Luck, Ms Becky (NZ)
205	Ussher, Ms Anna (NZ)
206	Greenhough, Mr Robert (NZ)
207	MacDuff, Campbell (NZ)
208	Robinson, Ms Deborah (NZ)
209	Thomson, Ms Ra (NZ)
210	Low, Ms Andrene (NZ)
211	Hooper, Ms Sarah (NZ)
212	Nelson, Mr Mike (NZ)
213	Marshall Family (NZ)
214	Lee, Mr Shaun (NZ)
215	Sweden, Mr John (NZ)
216	Ufton, Mr Darryl (NZ)
217	Donovan, Mr John (NZ)
218	Moxham, Ms Helen (NZ)
219	Shanks, Ms Pamela (NZ)
220	Rennie, Ms Jocelyn (NZ)
221	Munro, Ms Susan (NZ)
222	Far North Environment Centre (NZ)
223	Flynn, Ms Jan & Kennedy, Mr Michael (NZ)
224	Dalbeth Ms D K (NZ)
225	Read, Mr Michael (NZ)
226	Williamson, Kim (NZ)
227	Brookes, Mr John (NZ)
228	Crossland, Ms Fran (NZ)
229	McEntee, Mr Patrick (NZ)
230	Schaverien, Jane & Kaa, Herewini (NZ)
231	Watts, Ms Charmaine (NZ)
232	Thomson, Ms Mary (NZ)
233	Duyvestyn, Ms Helen (NZ)
234	Martin-Austin, Ms Cornelia (NZ)
235	Jagannath, Rekha
236	Tyrrell, Ms Jacqueline (NZ)
237	Gibb, Mr Nigel (NZ)
238	Karauria, Ms Merania (NZ)
239	Bailey, Ms Pauline (NZ)
240	Bailey, Mr David (NZ)
241	Eggers, Ms Helen (NZ)
242	Todd, Ms Christine (NZ)
243	Harman, Ms Gaye (NZ)
244	Verduyn, Mr Lewis (NZ)
245	Chao, Ling Ling
246	Waterman, Ms Brenda (NZ)
247	Marshall, Mr Steve (NZ)
248	Howell, Ms Wendy (NZ)
249	Wilshire, Ms Shirley (NZ)
250	Carter, Ms Lisa
251	Hilhorst, Ms Marieke & Hansford, Mr Dave (NZ)
252	Ross, Mr Phil (NZ)
253	Meyer, Ms Helga (NZ)
254	Fawcett, Mr Paul
255	Stephens, Ms Kerensa (NZ)
256	Schloemer, Ms Ingrid (NZ)
257	Guthrie, Mr Ian & Ms Claudia (NZ)
258	Thornton, Ms Jocelyn (NZ)
259	Tangohau, Ms Andrea (NZ)
260	Eggers, Mr Grant (NZ)
261	Piekarski, Ms Joanna (NZ)
262	Buist, Ms Sarah (UK)
263	Christensen, Ms Mark (NZ)
264	McMullan, Ms Sarah (NZ)
265	Koppert, C (NZ)
266	Cooper, Ms Alexia (UK)
267	Anderson, Ms Sarah (NZ)
268	Willard, Mr Glenn & Ms Willard-Moore, Donna (NZ)
269	Evans, Ms Carolyn (NZ)
270	Luff, Ms Tessa (NZ)
271	Wendt, Ms Una (NZ)
272	Peacocke, Mr Anthony (NZ)
273	Fitzgerald, Ms Janmarie (NZ)
274	Hatfield, Ms Jane (NZ)
275	Wiesner, Mr Ivo (NZ)
276	Mikkelsen, Ms Elisabeth (NZ)
277	Kidd, Ms Sarah-Jane (NZ)
278	Macmillan, Mr John (NZ)
279	Rickard, Mr Wayne (NZ)
280	Mortensen, Ms Tina & Wemyss, Mr Greg (NZ)
281	Daley, Mr Mike (NZ)
282	Milasinovich
283	Jolly, Mr Dan (NZ)
284	Fowlie, Ms Pam (NZ)
285	Wilson, Ms Eryn (NZ)
286	Mowbray, Ms Emily (NZ)
287	Murphy, Ms Melanie (NZ)
288	Lyons, Ms Tracey (NZ)
289	Flett, J & M (NZ)
290	Laing, Ms Catherine (NZ)
291	Harris, Ms Lynda (NZ)
292	Caro, Ms Nonny (NZ)
293	Lockie, Lynley & Family (NZ)
294	Digby, Ms Janet (NZ)
295	Cooper, Ms Rachel
296	Radford, Ms N (NZ)
297	Duke, Ms Nicole
298	Kyle, Ms Hannah (NZ)
299	Sims, Mr Gary & Ms Ann (NZ)
300	Sherwood, Ms Melody (NZ)
301	Hale, Mr Darren (NZ)
302	Askam, Ms Beverley (NZ)
303	Meek, Ms Shelley (NZ)
304	Friedlander, Ms Emily (NZ)
305	Bleakley, Ms Claire (NZ)
306	Larsen, Ms Anne (NZ)
307	Pilott, Mr Marty (NZ)
308	Quin, Ms Mirelle (NZ)
309	Barnes, Mr John Sydor, Ms Maria Long, Ms Carol (NZ)
310	Schmidt, Mr Otto (NZ)
311	Cohen, Ms Gila
312	Woodhouse, Mr Graeme (US)
313	Hart, Mr Phillip (NZ)
314	Thompson, Mr Robert & Ms Brown-Thompson, Ms Rebecca (NZ)
315	Strohfeldt, Ms Elizabeth (NZ)
316	Deed, Ms Ngaire (NZ)
317	Britton, Ms Lindsey (NZ)
318	Bannatyne, Ms Kay (NZ)
319	Marsh, Ms Laura (NZ)
320	Hodges, Mr David (NZ)
321	Barsanti, Mr Theo (NZ)
322	Avery, Ms Melanie (NZ)
323	McIntyre, Mr Bruce & Ms Takaku, Tomo (NZ)
324	Williams, Mr Marcus (NZ)
325	Parkinson, Mrs M J (NZ)
326	Huddleston, Mr Ian (NZ)
327	Rabone, Ms Christine (NZ)
328	Menzies, Ms Sarah (NZ)
329	McIntyre, Mr Stephen (NZ)
330	Rosenberg-Smith, Ms Lana (NZ)
331	Davis, Ms Victoria (NZ)
332	Lynn, Mr Simon & la Roche, Ms Liz (NZ)
333	Todd, Mr Ian (NZ)
334	Wallace, Ms Anne (NZ)
335	Knight, Mr Peter (NZ)
336	Thomas, Ms Liz (NZ)
337	Schneider, Ms Sabine (NZ)
338	Groen, Mr Martijn (NZ)
339	Timney, Ms Linda (NZ)
340	Zanetti, Ms Stephen (NZ)
341	Copeland, Ms Sheryl (NZ)
342	Sharpe, Ms Amanda & Family (NZ)
343	Mettrick, Ms Carolyn (NZ)
344	McKee, Ms Shona (NZ)
345	Philpott, Mr Murray (NZ)
346	Bazeley, AP (NZ)
347	van den Bemd, Ms Yolanda (NZ)
348	Bruinsma, Ms Berthine (NZ)
349	St Columbkille’s Social Action Group (NZ)
350	Navidad, Ms Ana (NZ)
351	Caldwell, Ms Alicia (NZ)
352	Scott, Ms Felicity (NZ)
353	Waterview Environmental Society Inc (Nz)
354	Murray, Ms Sandra (NZ)
355	Davis, Sir Thomas & Lady Carla (NZ)
356	McGregor, Ms Wilma (NZ)
357	Reader, Mr Alan & Ms Joan (BHUTAN)
358	Gerson, Ms Ruth (NZ)
359	Hunter, Ms Anne (NZ)
360	Hug, Mr Peter (NZ)
361	Von Tippelskirch, Mr Manfred & Scott, Ms Helen (NZ)
362	Reader, Ms Annabel (NZ)
363	Kolff, Mr J Kris (NZ)
364	Scott, Ms Patricia (NZ)
365	Zwan, van der, Mr Sebastian (NZ)
366	Metzler, Mr Shane (NZ)
367	Robinson, Mr Martin (NZ)
368	Morgan, Ms Kay (NZ)
369	Heard, Ms Nita (NZ)
370	McManus, Ms Sonia (NZ)
371	Powell, Ms Sarah (NZ)
372	Young, Ms Carolyn (NZ)
373	Dolan, Ms Julia (NZ)
374	Hewer, Mr Kevin (NZ)
375	Winter, Mr Vincent (NZ)
376	Henderson, Leslie (NZ)
377	Armstrong, Ms Leane (NZ)
378	Winter, Mr Peter (NZ)
379	Fitzgerald, Mr Gary
380	Simpson, NC & BA (NZ)
381	Bonallack, Mr Douglas (NZ)
382	Hawken, Mr Rob & Ms Glen (NZ)
383	Saunders, Ms Gillian (NZ)
384	Trotman, Mr Richard (NZ)
385	Knowles, Ray, Judy, Sam and Amy (NZ)
386	Godfrey, Dr M E (NZ)
387	Calcott, Ms Anne (NZ)
388	Laureys, Ms Marlene (NZ)
389	Davis, Mr John (NZ)
390	Mcpartlin, Ms Celia
391	Mawhinney, Ms Marianne (NZ)
392	de Raadt, Ms Marius (NZ)
393	Buchan, B (NZ)
394	New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists (NZ)
395	Richards, Ms Deborah (NZ)
396	Wilson, Dr Michael (NZ)
397	Robertson, Ms Jacqui (NZ)
398	Jimenez, Ms Niki (NZ)
399	Aubertin, Bobbie (NZ)
400	Bieleski, Ms Jocelyn & Mr Bieleski, Paul (NZ)
401	Dickinson, Ms Tracey (NZ)
402	Brice, Marise, Jeff, Aidan and Amanda (NZ)
403	Jews for GE-free food (New Zealand) (NZ)
404	Walter, Ms Mary (QLD)
405	Galloway, Mr Louis
406	Ellis, Ms Kate (NZ)
407	Neilson, Ms Daveena (NZ)
408	Parsons, Ms Pam (NZ)
409	Sheridan, Kim (NZ)
410	Quaggin, Ms Helen (NZ)
411	Thompson, Mr David (NZ)
412	Borchowsky, Ms Lilian (NZ)
413	Johnstone, Ms Laraine & Pearson, Neville (NZ)
414	Wood, Jana (NZ)
415	Drueckler, Ms Sabine (NZ)
416	Humm, Mr Adrian (NZ)
417	Hiepe, Mr Wolfgang (NZ)
418	Wright, Ms Glenda (NZ)
419	Alete, Ms Maggie (NZ)
420	Burston, Mr Joseph (NZ)
421	Douglas, Jackie – ACU-Power TCM (NZ)
422	Salmen, Ms Myriam (NZ)
423	Handley, Dr Sean (NZ)
424	Canham, Mr Lloyd (NZ)
425	Watson, Mr William (NZ)
426	Puentener, Ms Rachel (NZ)
427	Stock Feed Manufacturers’ Council of Australia (SFMCA) (VIC)
428	Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) (ACT)
429	Garlick, Ms Brenda (NZ)
430	Brown, Mr Milton (NZ)
431	McAuley, Ms Jean (NZ)
432	Brown, Ms Clare (NZ)
433	Avery, Lyndsay (NZ)
434	Vincent, AH & G (NZ)
435	Britain, Ms Christine (NZ)
436	Pirrit, Ms Sue (NZ)
437	Bethune, Ms Rhonda (NZ)
438	Kuenning Herbert, Ms Kris (NZ)
439	Gerritsen, Jan (NZ)
440	Bain, Mr Alun
441	Lambrechtsen, Dr Nick C (NZ)
442	Blankenbyl, Mr Lawrence (NZ)
443	Sturmer, Ms Lea and Sturmer, Mr Richard (NZ)
444	Avcare Limited (ACT) Tabled at public hearing 04.03.04 - opening statement - Canola industry stewardship principles for coexistence of production systems and supply chains, Gene Technology Grains Committee, July 2003 - Article from Australian Financial Review, 04.03.04, titled 'Proof of demand for GM food is in the puree'. Supplementary submission 09.03.04
445	Backstrom, Ms Cheryl (NZ)
446	Moore, Mr Timothy (NZ)
447	Ireland, Ms Kathryn (NZ)
448	Graf, Mr Marcus (NZ)
449	Gray, Mr Martin (NZ)
450	Wisewitch, Ms Yolanda (NZ)
451	Naylor, Ms Eva (NZ)
452	Vodnik, Ms Zvone (NZ)
453	Copeland, Ms Ruth (NZ)
454	Lord, L (NZ)
455	Andrews, Ms Carol (NZ)
456	Butterworth, Ms Cheryl (NZ)
457	Marriner, Mr Darryl (NZ)
458	Drake, Mr Mike (NZ)
459	Hinkley, Mr Dale (NZ)
460	Summerhays, Ms Karen (NZ)
461	West, Mr Bernard (NZ)
462	Sidebotham, Mr Mark (NZ)
463	Ives, Ms Brenda (NZ)
464	Major, Mr Paul (NZ)
465	Young, Ms Heather (NZ)
466	Cronwright, Mr Hugh (NZ)
467	Raunigg, Mr Manfred & Raunigg, Ms Ana (NZ)
468	Royal, Mr Clifford (NZ)
469	Barnett, Ms Anaia (NZ)
470	Grammer, Ms Zelka (NZ)
471	GE Free Northland (in Food & Environment) (NZ)
472	Aulman, Chris (NZ)
473	Ajani, Ms Janette (NZ)
474	Howell, Mr Steven (NZ)
475	Brown, Ms Jill (NZ)
476	Andrews, Ms Brodie (NZ)
477	Bradley, Ms Jill & Atwood, Mr Keith (NZ)
478	Gee, Ms Nicola (NZ)
479	Lovegrove, Ms Rebecca (NZ)
480	Bradford, Dr Nick (NZ)
481	Hamilton, Mr Paul (NZ)
482	Tellier, Mr Marco (NZ)
483	Klinac, Dr David &Klinac, Dr Robyn (NZ)
484	Kefford, Ms Jo (NZ)
485	Keen, Mr Ross (NZ)
486	Sullivan, Ms Victoria (NZ)
487	Evans, V (NZ)
488	Rural Women New Zealand (NZ)
489	Spence, Ms Heather (NZ)
490	Vogt, Mr Raymond (NZ)
491	Blake, Ms Theresa (NZ)
492	Farrell, Ms Shelly (NZ)
493	Enari, Ms Loveni (NZ)
494	Beaton, Ms Sheena (NZ)
495	Crowe, Mr Peter (NZ)
496	Morrison, Mr Andrew (NZ)
497	Reid Family (NZ)
498	Irvine-Danner, Ms Sue (NZ)
499	Alber, Mr Erwin (NZ)
500	Alber, Ms Willow (NZ)
501	Duncan, Mr Leith (NZ)
502	Reed, Ms Julia & Reed, Mr Bob (NZ)
503	New Zealand Vegetarian Society Inc (NZ)
504	Jeffery, Ms Tania (NZ)
505	Kalasih, Ms Philippa (NZ)
506	Hastie, Mr Tony (NZ)
507	Shiels, Ms Claire (NZ)
508	Brown, Ms Heather (NZ)
509	Miller, Ms Susan (NZ)
510	Heath, Ms Cecilia (NZ)
511	Mulholland, Gerard & Mulholland, Ms Hedy (NZ)
512	Forbes, Mr Hugh (NZ)
513	Wong, Ms Cathryn (NZ)
514	Josephson, Mr Noel (NZ)
515	Patterson, Ms Lynne (NZ)
516	Boone, Ms Juliet (NZ)
517	Hirst, Ms Patricia & Mr Michael (NZ)
518	Bagnall, Ms Jillian (NZ)
519	Padman, Ms Carolyn (NZ)
520	Logan, Mr John & Logan, Ms Diane (NZ)
521	Masters, Ms Nicole (NZ)
522	Collins, Ms Jessica (NZ)
523	Pettinger Family (NZ)
524	Brownlie, Ms Morag (NZ)
525	Parker, Ms Jennifer (NZ)
526	Smith, Mr Jeffrey M (USA)
527	Taggart, Mr Dave (NZ)
528	Jones, Ms Oraina (NZ)
529	Strathdee, Ms Barbara (NZ)
530	Dixon, Ms Amanda (NZ)
531	Silig-McBride, Ms Corinne (NZ)
532	Wilson, Ms Marie (NZ)
533	Hay, Ms Karen (NZ)
534	Lodge, Ms Raylene & Lodge, Mr Graeme (NZ)
535	Hay, Mr Jeff (NZ)
536	Roberts, Ms Rochelle (NZ)
537	Goodwin, Ms Alison (NZ)
538	McGeorge, Mr Andrew & McGeorge, Ms Rebecca (NZ)
539	Zimny, Ms Maree (NZ)
540	Bonneau, Ms Kathryn (NZ)
541	Glenister, Ms Alison (NZ)
542	Morgan, Ms Helen (NZ)
543	Deuninck, Mr Rudy (NZ)
544	Caillard, Ms Chris (NZ)
545	Eddy, Mr Duncan (NZ)
546	Evans, Ms Berneice (NZ)
547	Ellingham, Ms Jane (NZ)
548	King, Mr Dave & MsDonald, Ms Sheryl (NZ)
549	MacLennan, Dr A O (NZ)
550	Bryant, Mr Jarad (NZ)
551	GE Free New Zealand in Food and Environment (RAGE) Inc (NZ)
552	Capital GE Free (NZ)
553	McArthur, C (NZ)
554	Dommisse, Dr Elvira (NZ)
555	Reid, Ms Anna (NZ)
556	Mountier, Ms Barbara (NZ)
557	Hall, Ms Di (NZ)
558	Blackmore, Ms Fiona (NZ)
559	Toon, Ms Rebecca (NZ)
560	Unger, Mr Leo (NZ)
561	Bowen, Ms Dawn (NZ)
562	Chard, Mr Phil (NZ)
563	Mitchell, Mr Graham (NZ)
564	Frith, Mr Hugh (NZ)
565	Johnston, Ms Wendy (NZ)
566	Greenpeace Australia Pacific (ACT)
567	South Australian Government (SA)
568	Mitchell, Ms Tessa
569	Grigg, Ms Janine (NZ)
570	Godwin, Mr John (NZ)
571	James, Ms Sue (NZ)
572	Earle, Mr Andrew (NZ)
573	Hadley, Ms Merissa (NZ)
574	Braidwood Greens (NSW)
575	St John-Ives, Ms Elizabeth (NZ)
576	O'Donnell, Mr Alec (NZ)
577	GeneEthics Network (VIC)
578	Kedgley, MP, Ms Sue , Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ)
579	Molloy, Ms Adrienne (NZ)
580	Kolff, Ms Anni (NZ)
581	McCormack, Ms Lyndall (NSW)
582	Bedingfield, Ms Dawn (NZ)
583	Pullen, Ms Gemma (NZ)

Appendix 2 - Public Hearing

A public hearing was held on the Bill on 4 March 2004 in Senate Committee Room 2S3, Parliament House, Canberra.

Committee Members in attendance

Senator Knowles

Senator Barnett

Senator Brown

Senator Denman

Senator Forshaw

Witnesses

Avcare Limited

Mr Claude Gauchat, Executive Director, Avcare Limited

Ms Heather Neil, Communications Director, Avcare Limited

Mr Matt Cahill, Regulatory Specialist, DowAgro Sciences and Member,
Avcare Biotechnology Committee

Dr John Huppatz, Science Advisor, Agrifood Awareness Australia Limited

Greenpeace Australia Pacific (via video conference)

Mr John Hepburn, GE campaigner

Ms Sue Kedgley, MP, Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand (via video conference)

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