Application for Licence for Limited and Controlled Release of GMOs Into the Environment: Application No. DIR 064/2006 Water Efficient GM Cotton

Notification of decision to issue a licence on application - DIR 064/2006 - for Limited and Controlled Release of Water-Efficient Genetically Modified (GM) Cotton

The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (the Regulator) has made a decision to issue a licence in respect of application DIR 064/2006 from Monsanto Australia Ltd. The applicant has received approval for the limited and controlled release of up to 24 GM cotton lines with different genes that are expected to enhance water use efficiency. The release involves preliminary (proof of concept) research that may take place over a maximum total area of 20 hectares on up to 10 sites during each of the two summer growing seasons of 2006/07 and 2007/08 in NSW and QLD.

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 the decision to issue the licence.

The Executive Summary, Technical Summary, the complete finalised RARMP, together with the licence conditions and a set of Questions and Answers on this decision can be obtained on-line from the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator’s website or requested via the contacts detailed below.

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

BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS

DIR 064/2006 - Cotton licence application summary

DIR 064/2006 - GM Cotton RARMP Executive Summary

DIR 064/2006 - GM Cotton RARMP Technical Summary

DIR 064/2006 - GM Cotton Licence Conditions

DIR 064/2006 - Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) for the Limited and Controlled Release of Water-Efficient GM Cotton

Questions & Answers on Licence Application DIR 064/2006: Limited and Controlled Release of Genetically Modified cotton

Risk Analysis Framework for Licence Applications to the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (2nd Edition) 2005

Related document - The Biology and Ecology of Cotton