Application for Licence for Limited and Controlled Release of GMOs Into the Environment: Application No. DIR 060/2005 Propagation and trial of imported GM rose varieties

Early-bird notification

Your chance to comment on the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan for proposed dealings involving intentional release of genetically modified rose: DIR 060/2005

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 Florigene Limited (Florigene) which, if approved, would involve a limited and controlled release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the Australian environment.

Details of DIR 060/2005 are as follows:

Florigene is seeking approval for a limited and controlled release of three imported GM rose (Rosa x hybrida) lines that have each been genetically modified to alter flower colour.  The three GM rose lines are hybrid tea and floribunda rose varieties which have been genetically modified by the insertion of genes affecting the synthesis of anthocyanin pigments, leading to the production of delphinidins, or blue pigments, in rose flowers. 

About 100 plants of each GM rose line are proposed for release, along with 100 plants each of the two non-GM parental rose varieties.  The proposed release would take place at one site in a semi-contained greenhouse facility on a total of 0.01 hectares in Victoria, from March 2006 to April 2008.  Florigene aims to evaluate the performance of the imported GM rose lines, conduct limited propagation, and generate data to support a possible future application for commercial release.

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 November 2005.  The Act specifies a 30 day minimum consultation period.  However, at this stage I anticipate allowing six weeks for submissions to be received.

If you have questions about the application, or how you can provide comment, 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:  1 800 181 030
Fax:  (02) 6271 4202

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.

DIR 060/2005 - rose licence application summary

Questions & Answers on Licence Application DIR 060/2005: Limited and Controlled Release of Genetically Modified Roses