HISTORYHistoric Inadequate Action by Government on Passive Chemical Exposure from Pesticide Spray Drift and Overspray
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INQUIRY INTO THE USE AND MANAGEMENT OF PESTICIDES IN NEW SOUTH WALES
Standing Committee on State Development, 26 July 1999, Dubbo
The following are some extracts from the transcript of the 'Inquiry into the Use and Management of Pesticides in NSW'
Page 20 [regarding GMO cotton being used as a buffer against spray drift]:
"The Hon. I. COHEN: I was interested that you mentioned that you are actually using Inguard cotton as a type of buffer zone because of the reduced need for pesticide. I understand that the reduction is about 30 per cent. Is that correct? You are still using pesticide on the Inguard cotton first generation.
Mr CONE: Yes.
The Hon. I. COHEN: If you are still using pesticide on cotton alongside the Inguard cotton first generation, still using two-thirds of the quantity of chemicals that you are using on the other crops, does it not concern you that after a number of generations there could be significant problems and that you may have to use an increased amount of pesticide on a genetically-engineered crop?
Mr CONE: That certainly is a concern. ..."
Page 21 [regarding the need to increase pesticide use on GM cotton over time]:
"The Hon. I. COHEN: To actually control the build-up of resistance to chemicals over generations. I am really concerned about that. We see a new you-beaut system of genetically-engineered cotton, and we say that we are using less pesticide, but over a period of a number of crops we end up with a compounding effect of a genetically-engineered product and a significant increase in pesticide usage. Would you agree that that is a reasonable fear?
Mr CONE: That is a possibility. ..."
Page 22 [on cotton seed oil for the vegetable oil industry and stock feed]:
"The Hon. I. COHEN: Does the region supply cotton seed oil for the vegetable oil industry?
Mr CONE: Yes.
The Hon. I. COHEN: Is the production of that differentiated from the normal cotton production? Is that a separate crop altogether, or is it part of the major crop?
Mr CONE: It is part of the major crop.
The Hon. I. COHEN: So, is there a proper assessment of it as a food crop at the time of production in terms of pesticide usage – different from the levels of scrutiny that are occurring for the cotton crop that is going to be used for material production?
Mr CONE: Yes.
The Hon. I. COHEN: Who does that?
Mr CONE: That is done through our CSIRO people, who monitor our food quality and so forth. That has to be watched very closely, because the seed is also used as a stock food, along with the hulls and so forth. Of course, with the bad experiences we have had with Helix and so forth, we have to be very careful about keeping the tab on that one."
Page 20 [regarding GMO cotton being used as a buffer against spray drift]:
"The Hon. I. COHEN: I was interested that you mentioned that you are actually using Inguard cotton as a type of buffer zone because of the reduced need for pesticide. I understand that the reduction is about 30 per cent. Is that correct? You are still using pesticide on the Inguard cotton first generation.
Mr CONE: Yes.
The Hon. I. COHEN: If you are still using pesticide on cotton alongside the Inguard cotton first generation, still using two-thirds of the quantity of chemicals that you are using on the other crops, does it not concern you that after a number of generations there could be significant problems and that you may have to use an increased amount of pesticide on a genetically-engineered crop?
Mr CONE: That certainly is a concern. ..."
Page 21 [regarding the need to increase pesticide use on GM cotton over time]:
"The Hon. I. COHEN: To actually control the build-up of resistance to chemicals over generations. I am really concerned about that. We see a new you-beaut system of genetically-engineered cotton, and we say that we are using less pesticide, but over a period of a number of crops we end up with a compounding effect of a genetically-engineered product and a significant increase in pesticide usage. Would you agree that that is a reasonable fear?
Mr CONE: That is a possibility. ..."
Page 22 [on cotton seed oil for the vegetable oil industry and stock feed]:
"The Hon. I. COHEN: Does the region supply cotton seed oil for the vegetable oil industry?
Mr CONE: Yes.
The Hon. I. COHEN: Is the production of that differentiated from the normal cotton production? Is that a separate crop altogether, or is it part of the major crop?
Mr CONE: It is part of the major crop.
The Hon. I. COHEN: So, is there a proper assessment of it as a food crop at the time of production in terms of pesticide usage – different from the levels of scrutiny that are occurring for the cotton crop that is going to be used for material production?
Mr CONE: Yes.
The Hon. I. COHEN: Who does that?
Mr CONE: That is done through our CSIRO people, who monitor our food quality and so forth. That has to be watched very closely, because the seed is also used as a stock food, along with the hulls and so forth. Of course, with the bad experiences we have had with Helix and so forth, we have to be very careful about keeping the tab on that one."