Woden, ACT, Australia
February 22, 2006
Early-bird notification: Your chance to comment on the Risk
Assessment and Risk Management Plan for proposed dealings
involving intentional release of genetically modified cotton:
DIR 063/2005
Coming soon
Your chance to
comment on the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan for
proposed dealings involving intentional release of genetically
modified cotton: DIR 063/2005
Application
The Office of
the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has received an application
(DIR 063/2005) under section 40 of the Gene Technology Act
2000 (the Act) from
Hexima Limited (Hexima) which, if approved, would involve
a limited and controlled release of genetically modified
organisms (GMOs) into the Australian environment.
Hexima is
seeking approval for a limited and controlled release of three
GM cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) lines that have each been
genetically modified to enhance resistance to major fungal
diseases.
The proposed release would take place at three sites over a
maximum total area of 1.0 hectare per annum during each of the
three growing seasons from September 2006 to May 2009 in up to
three shires in Queensland and New South Wales. The trial would
involve proof of concept, early stage research to measure the
expression of the introduced gene; to assess the enhanced
disease resistance and agronomic performance of the GM cotton
lines under field conditions; and to test for effects on some
beneficial soil microorganisms. Seeds would also be collected
and stored for further studies including possible future
releases (subject to additional applications and approvals).
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 DIR 063/2005. 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’) along with a set of Questions and
Answers. If you would like to receive a hard copy of the
summary and/or the Questions and Answers, 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 experts, agencies and
authorities, 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 late May 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:
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
Relevant
documents in PDF format:
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