Australia
January 22, 2015
NOTIFICATION OF APPLICATION
Receipt of licence application DIR 134 from International Flower Developments Pty Ltd: Commercial import and distribution of GM carnations with altered flower colour
Application
The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has received a licence application (DIR 134) from International Flower Developments Pty. Ltd. (IFD) for the commercial import and distribution of genetically modified (GM) carnation cut flowers.
This licence application is for the Australia wide commercial import and distribution of the GM carnation varieties: Moonaqua, Moonberry and Moonvelvet. These varieties were developed by introducing genetic elements conferring altered flower colour. In addition, each of the GM varieties contains a herbicide tolerance marker gene which is used to select the modified plants in the laboratory.
Similar GM carnation lines with altered flower colour were authorised for release in Australia under DIR 030/2002 and were placed on the GMO Register on 27 March 2007.
In the current application, there is no intention to grow these GMOs in Australia. If a licence is issued, harvested cut-flowers of the GMOs would be imported and distributed in the same way as other cut carnation flowers in the floristry industry.
Purpose of this notification
This notification provides early information about the above application and the assessment process, including a forthcoming opportunity to comment. At this stage, comment is not sought from members of the public. Later, the public will be asked to comment on a comprehensive Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) for the application. The RARMP will be prepared taking into account advice received from a broad range of experts, agencies and authorities, and relevant local councils, as specified in section 50 of the Gene Technology Act 2000 (the Act). I expect the consultation RARMP to be released for public comment and further advice from experts, agencies and authorities in July 2015. A period of at least 30 days will be allowed for submission of comments, as required by the Act.
In the interim, you can obtain a copy of the application by contacting my Office (see contact details below). Please quote application number DIR 134. As the application is quite lengthy, you may prefer to view a summary of the application and/or a Questions and Answers document, which are posted on our website along with this document (under ‘What’s New’).
If you have any questions or would like to receive a copy of any document, please contact the OGTR.
The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator
MDP 54, GPO Box 9848, Canberra, ACT, 2601
Telephone: 1800 181 030
Facsimile: 02 6271 4202
Email: ogtr@health.gov.au
Website http://www.ogtr.gov.au
DIR 134 - Notification of Licence Application: Commercial import and distribution of genetically modified carnations with altered flower colour – posted 22 (PDF 46 KB)
DIR 134 – Questions and Answers (PDF 18 KB)
DIR 134 – Licence Application Summary (PDF 61 KB)
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