Asia-Pacific

Greenpeace calls for Australian review on GM food

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-02-10 13:50

SYDNEY: Greenpeace spokeswoman Laura Kelly said a ban on genetically modified (GM) eggplant in India should make Australia reconsider its attitude to all GM food on Wednesday.

She called on Australia's food regulators to adopt the same careful approach to all GM food.

"There have been no studies done in Australia to determine the impact of GM crops on Australia's unique biodiversity," Kelly said in a statement.

"The Indian government's decision ... raises the urgent need for independent, peer-reviewed studies on GM food in Australia.

"The federal government should act immediately to review regulations that allow our food safety regulator to disregard independent evidence on the risks Australians face eating GM foods, " she added.

India on Tuesday halted the release of the world's first GM eggplant, saying further study needed to be done to guarantee consumer safety.