DIR 052/2004 - Field trial of genetically modified rice (Oryza sativa L.) - functional characterisation of the rice genome

DECISION ON ISSUING A LICENCE FOR APPLICATION DIR 052/2004

The Gene Technology Regulator (the Regulator) has made a decision to issue a licence in respect of application DIR 052/2004 from CSIRO.  The application requested approval to undertake a limited and controlled release of genetically modified (GM) rice lines on one site of 0.04 hectares in New South Wales in the three summer growing seasons from 2005 to 2008, plus an additional site of 0.1 hectares for two months at the beginning of the second season.

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 council, 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 rice and by-products, 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.

Additional information on DIR 052/2004: http://www.ogtr.gov.au/ir/dir052.htm

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