EARLY-BIRD
NOTIFICATION
Coming soon
Your chance
to comment on the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan
for proposed dealings involving intentional release of
genetically modified torenia: DIR 068/2006
This document in PDF format:
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/dir068ebnotific.pdf
Application
The Office
of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has received an
application (DIR 068/2006) under section 40 of the Gene
Technology Act 2000 (the Act)
from Florigene Pty Ltd
(Florigene) which, if approved, would involve a
limited and controlled release of genetically modified
organisms (GMOs) into the Australian environment.
Florigene
is seeking approval for a limited and
controlled release of nine torenia (Torenia x
hybrida) lines that have been genetically modified to
produce a range of flower colours. A field trial with up to
200 plants is proposed at one site of approximately 100m2
in the city of Darebin, Victoria, during the summer of
2007/08. The purpose of the release is to evaluate the
performance of the GM torenia lines by measuring the
expression of the introduced genes, horticultural
characteristics such as the plant size, number and longevity
of flowers, flower colour stability and susceptibility to
pests and diseases.
There have
been no previous releases of the GM torenia lines in
Australia. The GM plants will be grown in hanging baskets
suspended above a concrete or gravel surface and the
applicant has proposed a number of other measures to limit
their spread and persistence. These will be considered in
the course of assessing the application.
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 068/2006. 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, 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 for public comment in mid October
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:
The Office of the Gene
Technology Regulator
PO Box 100
Woden, ACT, 2606
Telephone: 1800 181 030
Facsimile: 02 6271 4202
E-mail: ogtr@health.gov.au
