DIR 055/2004 - Field trials of herbicide tolerant (Roundup Ready® Flex MON 88913) and herbicide tolerant/insect resistant (Roundup Ready® Flex Mon 88913/Bollgard II®) cottons

DECISION ON ISSUING A LICENCE FOR APPLICATION DIR 055/2004 

The Gene Technology Regulator (the Regulator) has made a decision to issue a licence in respect of application DIR 055/2004 from Monsanto Australia Limited.  The application requested approval to undertake a limited and controlled release of genetically modified (GM) herbicide tolerant and herbicide tolerant/insect resistant cottons on up to 91 sites on a maximum area of 1815 hectares over two growing seasons during 2005/06.

The summer growing season (September 2005 to May 2006) may involve up to 86 sites over a maximum area of 1770 hectares in the cotton growing regions of NSW and southern Qld.  A small part of the trial may be conducted in northern WA, the NT and northern Qld during the 2006 winter growing season (March to November 2006) on up to 5 sites over a maximum area of 45 hectares.

The decision to issue the licence was made after extensive consultation on the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) with the public, State and Territory governments, Australian Government agencies, the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee and the relevant local councils, as required by the Gene Technology Act 2000.

Issues relating to the health and safety of people and the protection of the environment raised during the consultation process on this application were considered in finalising the RARMP and in making a decision on whether to issue the licence.

The licence has been issued with specific licence conditions that will ensure effective implementation of the risk management plan.  The specific conditions include containment measures, restrictions on the use of the GM cottonseed, and post-harvest cleaning and monitoring of the trial sites. 

The Executive Summary and the complete finalised RARMP, together with the licence conditions, can be obtained on-line from the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator’s website or at the address below.

Origianl document in PDF format: http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/dir055notific.pdf

Office of the Gene Technology Regulator
MDP 54, PO Box 100
WODEN  ACT  2606

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

DIR 055/2004 - Application for licence for dealings involving an intentional release into the environment Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/dir055finalrarmp.pdf

DIR 055/2004 - Cotton RARMP summary
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/dir055finalrarmpsum.pdf

DIR 055/2004 - Cotton licence conditions
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/dir055lic.pdf

Related document - The biology and ecology of cotton
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/biologycotton.pdf

Questions & Answers on decision on licence application DIR 055/2004: Limited & Controlled release of genetically modified cottons
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/dir055qanda.pdf