The Gene
Technology Regulator (the Regulator) has made a decision to
issue a licence in respect of application DIR 062/2005 from
Bayer CropScience Pty Ltd. The applicant has received
approval for
the unrestricted commercial release of a GM cotton in
Australia.
Liberty Link®
Cotton is tolerant to the application of glufosinate
ammonium, the active ingredient in the herbicide Liberty®,
which allows the herbicide to be applied for in-crop weed
control.
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 all local councils, 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 the decision to issue the licence.
The Executive
Summary, Technical Summary, the complete finalised RARMP,
together with the licence conditions, a set of Questions and
Answers on this decision and a map of current cotton growing
shires can be obtained on-line from the Office of the Gene
Technology Regulator’s website or requested via the contacts
detailed below.
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
