Australia-GM Canola.

AUSTRALIA-GM CANOLA.

Genetically modified canola will be binned with non-GM varieties in Victoria and NSW next harvest, in a move that has outraged an anti-GM group.

Bulk handler GrainCorp has changed its canola segregations in a bid to handle an estimated 100,000 tonnes of GM canola next harvest.

The changes mean Round-Up Ready GM canola will be binned with conventional, Triazine Tolerant and Clearfield canola varieties.

A separate bin, called CSO1A, excluding GM canola, will also be offered.

Network of Concerned Farmers spokeswoman Julie Newman said the changes would mean the end of Australia ’s status as a non-GM supplier and would lead to extra costs for farmers.

"It’s the first stage of removing choice for farmers and consumers," Ms Newman said.

Last season GrainCorp had specific GM-only bins at receival sites at Lubeck in western Victoria and Grenfell and Lockhart in NSW.

Less than 7000 tonnes of GM canola were received in Victoria last harvest. The grain was crushed and marketed by Cargill and Riverland.

GrainCorp corporate affairs manager David Ginns said that under the new segregations the mix bin including GM canola would be known as CSO1 and would be going into general trade, either domestic or export.

"We no longer segregate GM to everything else," Mr Ginns said.

However, he said some customers wanted a guarantee that the grain they bought was not GM.

He said the threshold for the CSO1A bin would be less than 0.9 per cent.

"There’s a set process to verify that it is non-GM grain, to provide a guarantee to the customer," Mr Ginns said.

"The grains will be subject to additional testing and will be subject to an additional fee.

"If the marketers want people to deliver to that bin, then they should provide a price incentive to cover the additional cost."

Ms Newman said the costs would be borne by farmers growing conventional canola.

"Non-GM farmers will now be inconvenienced if they have to deliver to another site and they will have to pay for the testing," Ms Newman said.

"It’s up to the non-GM farmers to keep up the standards."

She said the threshold of 0.9 per cent would not be acceptable for marketers wanting non-GM grain.

She said the trigger for labelling a product as containing GM material was 1 per cent.

"The 0.9 per cent threshold is too high. It should be zero," Ms Newman said

"The domestic markets can’t put labels on there saying they’re non-GM, if they have a 0.9 per cent threshold."