At the international level, Australia should immediately sign and implement the Biosafety Protocol, negotiated in January under the Convention on Biological Diversity . It sets rules in an attempt to ensure that handling, transfer and use of genetically engineered organisms between countries is safe. Some groups, including the National Farmers Federation , oppose Australia signing the treaty, claiming that it offers scope for other countries to raise non-tariff barriers to trade. But the protocol is consistent with World Trade Organization rules on scientific assessment and enshrines the precautionary principle already in many laws. Australia can only reduce international biosafety by signing the Protocol.
Genetic engineering is a potentially dangerous technology.
Tasmania has a one-year freeze on all releases and its laws declare GE organisms as pests. Western Australia has a two-year freeeze on commercial releases. Many influential leaders and groups support a freeze, including Berri CEO Doug Shears, nutritionist Rosemary Stanton and ACF President Peter Garrett. National Farmers Federation President Ian Donges favours a two to three-year pause. Many local councils and shires have declared their food services or territory GE-free.