Decision on issuing a licence for application DIR 032/2002

The Gene Technology Regulator (the Regulator) has made a decision to issue a licence in respect of application DIR 032/2002 from Bayer CropScience Pty Ltd.  The application requested approval to undertake limited and controlled release of genetically modified (GM) herbicide tolerant canola incorporating a hybrid breeding system on up to 18 sites.

The field trials are part of early stage research to identify the most promising lines for further development (subject to future applications and approvals). Up to 70 lines of herbicide tolerant GM canola and their progeny (derived by conventional breeding) will be tested over 3 summer and 3 winter planting seasons, during 2004-2007 to evaluate the agronomic performance of the GM canola lines and their progeny and to produce seed of specific crosses in New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. The maximum area of each site will be 4 hectares and the total area will not exceed 66 hectares.

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 Australian Government Minister for the Environment and Heritage, the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee and the relevant local councils, as required by the Gene Technology Act 2000.

Issues relating to the health and safety of people and the protection of the environment raised during the consultation process on these applications were considered in finalising the RARMP and in making a decision on whether to issue licence.

The licence imposes specific conditions to ensure that the risk management plan is implemented, including requirements for a pollen trap, monitoring zone, isolation zone, restrictions on the use of the GM canola seed and post harvest monitoring of the trial sites.

The Executive Summary and the finalised Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan together with the licence conditions can be obtained on-line from the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator’s website or at the address below.

Office of the Gene Technology Regulator
MDP 54, PO Box 100
WODEN  ACT  2606