DIR 094 - Limited and controlled release of wheat and barley genetically modified for enhanced nutrient utilisation efficiency
DIR 094 - Invitation to Comment on a Consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) for Limited and Controlled Release of Wheat and Barley Genetically Modified for Enhanced Nutrient Utilisation Efficiency - Comments close 19 June 2009 - posted 8 May 2009 (PDF 47 KB)

INVITATION TO COMMENT
CONSULTATION RARMP FOR LICENCE APPLICATION DIR 094 FROM CSIRO
Limited and Controlled Release of Genetically Modified Wheat and Barley

Australia’s gene technology regulatory system is designed to protect the health and safety of people and the environment by identifying risks posed by, or as a result of, gene technology and managing those risks.

The Gene Technology Regulator is currently assessing Licence Application DIR 094 from CSIRO for a limited and controlled release to undertake research with 17 wheat lines and 10 barley lines genetically modified (GM) for enhanced nutrient utilisation efficiency.

The purpose of the trial is to evaluate growth, yield and grain properties of the GM plants when grown under field conditions. Some seed would be collected and retained for analysis and possible future trials, subject to further approval(s). The trial is proposed to take place, under limited and controlled conditions, at one site in the ACT, on a maximum area of 1 ha from 2009-2012. None of the GM plant materials from the trial would be used in human food or animal feed.

A consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) has been prepared, which concludes that the proposed release would pose negligible risk to human health and safety or to the environment. A range of licence conditions are proposed, including measures to restrict the release to the size, location and duration requested by CSIRO.

The Regulator welcomes written submissions in order to finalise the RARMP, which will then form the basis of a decision on whether to issue the licence. The consultation RARMP and related documents can be obtained from the website <http://www.ogtr.gov.au> under ‘What’s New’ or by contacting the Office. Please quote application DIR 094 in any correspondence.

Submissions should be received by close of business on 19 June 2009.

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


DIR 094 - Questions & Answers (PDF 18 KB)

DIR 094 - Consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) Executive Summary (PDF 65 KB)

DIR 094 - Consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) Technical Summary (PDF 85 KB)

DIR 094 - Full Consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) for Limited and Controlled Release of Wheat and Barley Genetically Modified for Enhanced Nutrient Utilisation Efficiency (PDF 666 KB)

DIR 094 - Licence application summary (PDF 75 KB)

Reference material

Risk Analysis Framework for Licence Applications to the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator 2007

The Biology of Triticum aestivum L. em Thell (Wheat) (2008 version)

The Biology of Hordeum vulgare L. (Barley) (2008 version)