Application
The Office of the Gene
Technology Regulator (OGTR) has received an application (DIR
069/2006) under section 40 of the Gene Technology Act 2000
(the Act) from Bayer CropScience Pty Ltd (Bayer) which, if
approved, would involve a limited and controlled release of
genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the Australian
environment.
Bayer is seeking approval
to undertake dealings involving the limited and controlled
release of genetically modified (GM) Brassica napus (canola)
and B. juncea (Indian mustard) lines into the environment.
The lines proposed for release contain introduced genes for
herbicide tolerance and a hybrid breeding system comprising
male sterile and fertility restoring lines.
Bayer proposes a maximum
total trial area of 252 hectares spread over up to 42 sites
(8 sites per winter and 6 sites per summer season) of up to
6 hectares per site over 6 seasons between 2007 and 2010. A
total of 24 shires in New South Wales, South Australia and
Victoria have been identified as potential sites for the
trial.
The aims of the proposed
trial are for seed production for further testing and the
evaluation agronomic traits such as herbicide tolerance,
germination efficiency, and flowering dates in the GM canola
and Indian mustard lines, and their respective GM hybrid
lines under Australian cropping systems. None of the GM
canola and Indian mustard plants from the proposed release,
or their by-products would be used for stock feed or human
food.
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 069/2006. As the application is quite lengthy,
you may prefer to view a summary of the application, which
is posted on our website with this document (under ‘What’s
New’) along with a set of Questions and Answers. If you
would like to receive a hard copy of the summary and/or the
Questions and Answers, please contact us and we will post it
to you.
A comprehensive ‘Risk
Assessment and Risk Management Plan’ (RARMP) for this
application is now being prepared with input from a broad
range of experts, agencies and authorities, including State
and Territory Governments, relevant 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 late January 2007. The Act specifies a 30
day minimum consultation period. However, at this stage I
anticipate allowing six 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
