DIR 087 - Limited and controlled release of cotton genetically modified for insect resistance and herbicide tolerance
DIR 087 - Notification of decision to issue a licence on application - posted 8 December 2008 (PDF 44 KB)

NOTIFICATION OF DECISION


ISSUE OF LICENCE DIR 087 TO BAYER CROPSCIENCE PTY LTD (BAYER) FOR A LIMITED AND CONTROLLED RELEASE OF GM COTTON

The Acting Gene Technology Regulator has made a decision to issue a licence in respect of application DIR 087 from Bayer. The applicant has received approval for the limited and controlled release of cotton genetically modified for insect resistance and herbicide tolerance. The release is expected to take place at one site in the local government area of Narrabri, NSW, on a maximum total area of 0.36 ha over the summer cotton growing season 2008-2011. None of the GM cotton will be permitted to be used as human food or animal feed.

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, Heritage and the Arts, the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee and the relevant local council, as required by the Gene Technology Act 2000 and corresponding State and Territory laws.

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 and complete finalised RARMP, together with a set of Questions and Answers on this decision and a copy of the licence, 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 GPO Box 9848 CANBERRA ACT 2601
Telephone: 1800 181 030, Facsimile: 02 6271 4202
http://www.ogtr.gov.au

DIR 087 - Questions and Answers (PDF 15 KB)

DIR 087 - Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) Executive Summary (PDF 57 KB)

DIR 087 - Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) Technical Summary (PDF 79 KB)

DIR 087 - Full Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) for limited and controlled release of cotton genetically modified for insect resistance and herbicide tolerance (PDF 482 KB)

DIR 087 - Licence application summary (PDF 56 KB)

DIR 087 - GM Cotton Licence Conditions (PDF 140 KB)

Reference material

Risk Analysis Framework for Licence Applications to the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (3rd Edition) 2007

Related documents - The Biology of Gyssypium hirsutum L. and Gossypium barbadense L. (cotton) (PDF 1.03 MB)

Map of Local Government Areas where cotton is grown (PDF 972 KB)