DIR 054/2004 - Field trial of genetically modified wheat with altered grain starch

DECISION ON ISSUING A LICENCE FOR APPLICATION DIR 054/2004 

The Gene Technology Regulator (the Regulator) has made a decision to issue a licence in respect of application DIR 054/2004 from CSIRO. The application requested approval to undertake a limited and controlled release of six genetically modified (GM) wheat lines with modified grain starch characteristics. The trial will be conducted on one site over a maximum area of 0.25 hectares in the ACT from May 2005 to January 2007.

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 and Heritage, and the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee 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 this application were considered in finalising the RARMP and in making a decision on whether to issue the licence.

The licence has been issued with specific licence conditions that will ensure effective implementation of the risk management plan. The specific conditions include containment measures, restrictions on the use of the GM wheat and by-products, and post-harvest cleaning and monitoring of the trial sites.

The Executive Summary and the complete finalised RARMP, 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

Telephone: 1800 181 030
Facsimile: 02 6271 4202
http://www.ogtr.gov.au

BACKGROUND

Notification of decision to issue a licence on wheat application - DIR 054/2004
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/dir054notific.pdf

DIR 054/2004 - Genetically modified wheat licence application Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/dir054finalrarmp.pdf

DIR 054/2004 - Wheat RARMP summary
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/dir054finalrarmpsum.pdf

DIR 054/2004 - Wheat licence conditions
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/dir054lic.pdf

DIR 054/2004 - Wheat licence application summary
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/dir054secv.pdf

Related Document - The biology and ecology of wheat
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/biologywheat.pdf

Questions and Answers on licence application DIR 054/2004 for a field trial of genetically modified wheat
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/dir054qanda.pdf