September 25, 2002

The Gene Technology Regulator (the Regulator) has made a decision to issue a licence in respect of application number DIR 012/2002 from Monsanto Australia Ltd. The licence is for the commercial release of Bollgard II^® and Bollgard II^®/Roundup Ready^® cotton south of latitude 22º South, and for a limited and controlled release of these GM cottons on up to 800 hectares in any one season (with a cap of 1000 hectares for all licences) in the Northern Territory, northern Queensland and northern Western Australia.

Bollgard II^® cotton is resistant to the major caterpillar pests that attack cotton. It contains two insecticidal genes that produce proteins toxic to specific insects and was derived from INGARD^® cotton which contains one of the insecticidal genes. Bollgard II^®/Roundup Ready^® cotton was produced by conventional breeding of Bollgard II^® cotton with genetically modified Roundup Ready^® cotton that contains a gene for tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate (Roundup^®). The GM cottons also contain selectable bacterial marker genes that code for antibiotic resistance.

INGARD^® and Roundup Ready^® cotton were approved for commercial release in Australia in 1996 and 2000, respectively. These releases were restricted to south of latitude 22º South, because of concerns about the potential weediness of the cotton in tropical areas, as well as the potential for out-crossing to native cotton species in these areas.

Monsanto’s application requested approval for the commercial cultivation of Bollgard II^® and Bollgard II^®/Roundup Ready^® cotton in all current and potential Australian cotton growing areas, including areas north of latitude 22º South in the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland, i.e. outside the area previously approved for commercial release of GM cotton. However, the application and evaluation process identified continuing concerns regarding a risk of weediness in northern Australia and the commercial release was not approved in this region.

Therefore, release of the GM cottons in areas above the latitude 22° South (northern Australia) will be subject to a number of specific licence conditions to limit the scale of planting and minimise the risk of weediness, by restricting the spread and persistence of the GM cotton in the environment.

Complete and summary versions of the finalised risk assessment and risk management plan and the licence conditions can be obtained from the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator on-line or at the address below.

Office of the Gene Technology Regulator
MDP 54, PO Box 100
WODEN ACT 2600

Telephone: 1800 181 030
Facsimile: 02 6271 4202
http://www.ogtr.gov.au