DIR 053/2004 - Field trial of genetically modified salt tolerant wheat on saline land

DECISION ON ISSUING A LICENCE FOR APPLICATION DIR 053/2004 

The Gene Technology Regulator (the Regulator) has made a decision to issue a licence in respect of application DIR 053/2004 from Grain Biotech Australia Pty Ltd. The application requested approval to undertake a limited and controlled release of two genetically modified (GM) salt tolerant wheat lines over one season on a 0.45 hectares site in the Corrigin shire, Western Australia from April 2005 to January 2006.

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, the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee and the relevant local council, 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 complete finalised RARMP, the licence conditions, and a set of Questions and Answers on this decision can be obtained on-line from the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator’s website, or copies can be requested via the Freecall number or by mail (contact details 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

Notification of decision to issue a licence on wheat application - DIR 053/2004
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/dir053notific.pdf

DIR 053/2004 - Genetically modified wheat licence application Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/dir053finalrarmp.pdf

DIR 053/2004 - Wheat RARMP summary
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/dir053finalrarmpsum.pdf

DIR 053/2004 - Wheat licence conditions
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/dir053lic.pdf

DIR 054/2004 - Site details
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/dir053site.pdf

Related Document - The biology and ecology of wheat
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/biologywheatapr05.pdf

Questions and Answers on decision on licence application DIR 053/2004: Grain Biotech Australia's Genetically Modified Wheat
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/dir053qanda.pdf