December 17, 2008
DIR 093 - Limited and controlled release of wheat and barley genetically modified for altered grain starch composition
NOTIFICATION OF APPLICATION
Receipt of licence application from the CSIRO for dealings involving intentional release of genetically modified wheat and barley: DIR 093
Application
The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has received a licence application (DIR 093) from the CSIRO for an intentional release of genetically modified (GM) wheat and barley into the Australian environment which qualifies as a limited and controlled release under section 50A of the Gene Technology Act 2000 (the Act).
CSIRO is seeking approval to conduct research with three wheat lines and one barley line that have been genetically modified to alter grain starch composition for enhanced nutritional properties. The release is proposed to take place at one site in the ACT, on a maximum area of 1 ha between July 2009 and June 2012.
Plant materials from the GM wheat and barley will not enter the commercial animal or human food supply chain. However, some products made from the GM wheat and barley may be fed to rats and pigs in controlled laboratory experiments. Products containing GM wheat from this trial may also be consumed by a small group of volunteers as part of a carefully controlled nutritional study.
Purpose of this notification
A comprehensive Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) for the application is currently being prepared. I expect this to be released for public comment and advice from a broad range of experts, agencies and authorities in late March 2009. The Act specifies a 30 day minimum consultation period if no significant risks to human health and safety of the environment are identified, and a 50 day minimum consultation period if significant risks are identified.
In the interim, you can obtain a copy of the application itself by contacting my Office (see contact details below), please quote the reference number DIR 093. As the application is quite lengthy, you may prefer to view a summary of the application, which is posted on our website along with this document (under ‘What’s New’). If you would like to receive a hard copy of the application summary, please contact us and we will post it to you.
If you have questions about the application, or how you can provide comment, please contact the OGTR at:
The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator,
MDP 54, GPO Box 9848, Canberra, ACT, 2601
Telephone: 1800 181 030 Facsimile: 02 6271 4202
E-mail: ogtr@health.gov.au
Website http://www.ogtr.gov.au
DIR 093 - Question and Answers (PDF 15 KB)
DIR 093 - Licence application summary (PDF 75 KB)