State Cabinet has approved the drafting of legislation to allow ministerial designation of genetically modified free areas for GM food crops.
This new legislation will be designed to ensure the protection of a five-year moratorium while Parliament considers the Western Australian Gene Technology Bill 2001 and the Gene Technology Amendment Bill.
The Bills have been passed by the WA Legislative Assembly and are being examined by a Legislative Council standing committee which is due to report by June 30.
The legislation will continue to allow GM crop trials but, where an area is designated GM-free for a specified crop, GM crops will not be cultivated commercially.