Early-bird notification:
Your chance to comment on the Risk Assessment and Risk
Management Plan for proposed dealings involving commercial
release of genetically modified cotton: DIR 066/2006
Application
The
Office of the Gene
Technology Regulator (OGTR) has received an application
(DIR 066/2006) from
Monsanto Australia Limited (Monsanto) which, if
approved, would allow commercial release of genetically
modified (GM) cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) in northern
Australia.
Monsanto is seeking
approval to undertake dealings north of latitude 22º
South, without
specific containment measures,
with the following
GM cotton lines:
-
insect resistant
Bollgard II®
cotton (also known as MON15985)
-
herbicide tolerant
Roundup Ready®
cotton (also known as MON1445)
-
herbicide tolerant
Roundup Ready Flex®
cotton (also known as MON88913)
-
herbicide
tolerant/insect resistant Roundup Ready®/Bollgard
II®
cotton (also known as MON1445/15985)
-
herbicide
tolerant/insect resistant Roundup Ready Flex®/Bollgard®
cotton (also known as MON88913/MON15985).
All five
lines are already approved for commercial release south
of latitude 22º South and they have been trialled in
northern Australia under limited and controlled conditions.
If the proposed release is approved, Monsanto intends to
conduct plant breeding/agronomic/seed production trials in
areas suitable for cotton growing, followed by larger scale
plantings if commercial production opportunities arise.
Purpose of
this notification
As the Gene
Technology Regulator, I would like to advise people who have
previously expressed interest in knowing about work with
GMOs in Australia that they now have the opportunity to
access information about this application, including the
application itself.
You can obtain
a copy of the application from my Office (see contact
details below). When contacting the office, please quote
the reference number DIR 066/2006. As the application is
quite lengthy, you may prefer to view a summary of the
application, which is posted on our website (under “What’s
New”). If you would like to receive a printed copy of the
summary, please contact us and we will post it to you.
A
comprehensive Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan
(RARMP) is now being prepared for this application with
input from a broad range of experts, agencies and
authorities, including State and Territory Governments, all
local councils north of latitude 22º South, key Australian
Government agencies, the Minister for the Environment and
Heritage and the Gene Technology Technical Advisory
Committee. The RARMP is expected to be released for public
comment in July 2006. The Act specifies a 30 day minimum
consultation period. However, at this stage I anticipate
allowing eight weeks for submissions to be received.
If you have
questions about the application, or how you can provide
comment, please contact us at:
Office of the Gene
Technology Regulator
PO Box 100
WODEN, ACT 2606
Telephone: 1800 181 030
Facsimile: 02 6271 4202
E-mail:
ogtr@health.gov.au
(Dr) Sue D
Meek
Gene Technology Regulator
10 April 2006
This
document in PDF format:
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/dir066ebnotification.pdf
