Application for Licence for Commercial Release of GMOs Into the Environment: Application No. DIR 059/2005 Commercial release of herbicide tolerant (Roundup Ready Flex® MON 88913) and herbicide tolerant/insect resistant (Roundup Ready Flex® MON 88913/Bollgard II®) cotton south of latitude 22° South in Australia

Early-bird notification

Your chance to comment on the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan for dealings involving commercial release of genetically modified cotton in areas south of latitude 22° South in Australia: DIR 059/2005

Applications

The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has received an application under section 40 of the Gene Technology Act 2000 (the Act) from Monsanto Australia Limited (Monsanto) which, if approved, would involve the intentional release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the Australian environment.

Details of DIR 059/2005 are as follows:

Monsanto is seeking approval for unrestricted, commercial scale planting of herbicide tolerant (Roundup Ready Flex^® MON 88913) and herbicide tolerant/insect resistant (Roundup Ready Flex^® MON 88913/Bollgard II^®) GM cotton. The company anticipates a phased introduction commencing with up to 20,000 hectares in spring 2006 in the current cotton growing areas of New South Wales and southern Queensland. The area is expected to be increased in subsequent years and may include plantings in other areas south of latitude 22° South that are suitable for growing cotton. The GM cottons may also be planted on a small scale for evaluation trial and demonstration, education and research purposes.

Monsanto proposes to use the GM cotton plants and their by-products, including cottonseed, in the same manner as non-GM or other commercially released GM cotton, including selling lint, exporting seed, and for use in human food and as stockfeed. Monsanto also proposes unrestricted transport of the GM cottons and their products in areas south of latitude 22° South. However, transportation of ginned cottonseed from the release to areas north of latitude 22° South would be in accordance with the OGTR guidelines for transportation of GMOs. 

The Regulator’s decision whether or not to issue a licence in response to this application must be based upon an assessment that evaluates risks to people and/or the environment. However, cultivation of these GMOs may be otherwise restricted in some States and Territories by laws that prohibit the commercial release of certain GMOs on marketing grounds. Accordingly, in addition to any licence that may be issued by me under the Act and corresponding State and Territory laws, the commercial release of these GMOs in some jurisdictions may require additional approvals from that State or Territory Government.

Purpose of this notification

As the Gene Technology Regulator, I would like to advise people who have previously expressed interest in knowing about work with GMOs in Australia that they now have the opportunity to access information about this application, including the application itself.

You can obtain a copy of the application from my Office (see contact details below).  When contacting the office, please quote the reference number of the application you are interested in.  As the application is quite lengthy, you may prefer to view a summary of the application, which is posted on our website with this document (under “What’s New”).  If you would like to receive a hard copy of the summary, please contact us and we will post it to you.

A comprehensive ‘Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan’ (RARMP) for this application is now being prepared with input from a broad range of expert groups and stakeholders, including State and Territory Governments, relevant local councils, key Australian Government agencies, the Minister for the Environment and Heritage and the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee.  The RARMP is expected to be released for public comment in mid October 2005. The Act specifies a 30 day minimum consultation period.  However, at this stage I anticipate allowing eight weeks for submissions to be received.

Please note that issues such as food labelling, herbicide use, and marketability or trade implications posed by the commercialisation of GM crops in Australia do not fall within the scope of assessments conducted under the Act.

If you have questions about the application, or the preparation of the RARMP, please contact us at:

The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator
PO Box 100
Woden,  ACT,  2606
Website:  www.ogtr.gov.au
E-mail:  ogtr@health.gov.au
Phone:  1800 181 030
Fax:  (02) 6271 4202

DIR 059/2005 - cotton licence application summary

Questions & Answers on decision on Licence DIR 059/2005: Commercial Release of Genetically Modified Cotton

If you are interested in knowing more about the Gene Technology Act 2000 and development of the regulatory system, please visit this link: http://www.ogtr.gov.au/about/index.htm.