Application
The Office
of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has received an
application (DIR 073/2007) under section 40 of the Gene
Technology Act 2000 (the Act)
from Deltapine Australia
Pty Ltd (Deltapine) which, if approved, would involve
a limited and controlled release of genetically modified
organisms (GMOs) into the Australian environment.
Deltapine is seeking approval for a limited and
controlled release of up to four cotton (Gossypium
hirsutum) lines that have been genetically modified (GM)
to provide resistance to the major lepidopteran caterpillar
pests of cotton (cotton bollworm and budworm), alone or in
combination with tolerance to glyphosate, the active
constituent in Roundup Ready® Herbicide.
The
proposed trial would take place at up to 50 sites (of no
more than 10 hectares each) on a maximum total area of 500
hectares in up to 20 shires in New South Wales and
Queensland, during the summers of 2007/08, 2008/09 and
2009/10.
The aims of
the proposed trial are to conduct early stage research to
evaluate the agronomic performance and efficacy of the GM
cotton lines; collect data for future applications to the
OGTR and other regulators (including investigating the
impact of the GM cotton on non‑target organisms); breed,
select and test new cotton lines; and produce seed for use
in further studies or future trials, subject to additional
approvals. None of the GM material from the proposed trial
will be used for human food or animal feed.
Some details of the gene construct, including
the plasmid map and regulatory sequences, for the modified
Cry1Ab line were previously declared as Confidential
Commercial Information (CCI) under DIR 065/2006.
However, the
applicant requested that this CCI be revoked. The
information is contained in the application and will be
considered in the assessment process.
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 073/2007. 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 May
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:
The Office
of the Gene Technology Regulator
PO Box 100
Woden, ACT, 2606
http://www.ogtr.gov.au
Telephone: 1800 181 030
Facsimile: 02 6271 4202
E-mail:
ogtr@health.gov.au
