Early-bird notification

Coming soon

Your chance to comment on the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan for dealings involving commercial release of genetically modified cotton: DIR 062/2005

Application

The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has received an application (DIR 062/2005) under section 40 of the Gene Technology Act 2000 (the Act) from Bayer CropScience Pty Ltd (Bayer) for the commercial release of Liberty Link® (formerly known as LLCotton25 and Liberty®) cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) without specific containment measures. 

The GM cotton has been modified to be tolerant to glufosinate ammonium (the active constituent of the herbicides Basta®, Finale®, Buster® and Liberty®).  Initially, Bayer expects the most substantial adoption of the GM cotton to occur in the existing cotton growing regions of New South Wales and Queensland, followed by uptake in other areas where environmental conditions are suitable for cotton cultivation.

Bayer intends that the GM cotton and its products would be used in the same manner as non-GM and other commercially released GM cottons, including human food use (subject to approval by Food Standards Australia and New Zealand), transportation and use as stockfeed in all areas of Australia, sale of lint, and export of seed.

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 062/2005.  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 hard 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, 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 May 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
MDP 54
PO Box 100
WODEN  ACT  2606
Australia
Telephone: 1800 181 030
Facsimile: 02 6271 4202
http://www.ogtr.gov.au

Additional documents on DIR 062/2005: http://www.ogtr.gov.au/ir/dir062.htm