Your chance to comment on the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan for dealings involving intentional release of genetically modified wheat: DIR 061/2005

Applications

Australia's Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR / The Regulator)  has received an application under section 40 of the Gene Technology Act 2000 (the Act) which, if approved, would involve limited and controlled release of genetically modified (GM) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) into the Australian environment. 

Details of licence application DIR 061/2005 are as follows:

Grain Biotech Australia Pty Ltd is seeking approval for a small scale, limited and controlled release of up to twenty lines of GM salt tolerant wheat at one site on a maximum area of 0.45 ha in the Corrigin Shire of Western Australia.

The GM wheat lines contain a plant gene that increases production of an amino acid, called proline, which is expected to confer salt tolerance to the plants.  These wheat lines also contain one of two marker genes that were used to identify GM plants during their development in the laboratory.

The aim of the proposed release is to conduct early stage research to evaluate salt tolerance and agronomic performance of the GM wheat lines in saline soil conditions.  Neither the GM wheat nor any of its by-products will be used for human food or animal feed.

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 (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) is now being prepared for this application with input from a broad range of expert groups and stakeholders, including State and Territory Governments, the relevant local council, 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 in mid-February 2006.  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:

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.

Office of the Gene Technology Regulator
MDP 54
PO Box 100
WODEN  ACT  2606
Australia
Telephone: 1800 181 030
Facsimile: 02 6271 4202
http://www.ogtr.gov.au

Additional documents on DIR 058/2005: http://www.ogtr.gov.au/ir/dir061.htm