September 4, 2008
NOTIFICATION OF DECISION
ISSUE OF LICENCE DIR 084/2008 TO FLORIGENE PTY LTD FOR A LIMITED AND CONTROLLED RELEASE OF GM TORENIA
The Acting Gene Technology Regulator has made a decision to issue a licence in respect of application DIR 084/2008 from Florigene Pty Ltd (Florigene). The applicant has received approval for the limited and controlled release of three torenia lines genetically modified for enhanced phosphate uptake. The release is expected to take place at one site in the local government area of Darebin, Victoria on a maximum total area of 20 m2 between October 2008 and May 2009. None of the GM torenia plants 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 relevant local council(s), 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 084/2008 - Questions & Answers (PDF 17 KB)
DIR 084/2008 - Risk Assessment and Risk
Management Plan (RARMP) Executive Summary (PDF
65 KB)
DIR 084/2008 - Risk Assessment and Risk
Management Plan (RARMP)Technical Summary (PDF 85
KB)
DIR 084/2008 – Full Risk Assessment and Risk
Management Plan (RARMP) for limited and
controlled release of torenia genetically
modified for enhanced phosphate uptake (PDF 477
KB)
DIR 084/2008 - Licence Application Summary (PDF
56 KB)
DIR 084/2008 - GM Torenia Licence Conditions
(PDF 120 KB)
Reference material
Risk Analysis Framework for Licence Applications to the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (2nd Edition) 2007
Related document - The Biology of Torenia spp. (torenia) (PDF 312 KB)