DECISION ON
ISSUING A LICENCE FOR APPLICATION DIR 066/2006
COMMERCIAL RELEASE OF FIVE HERBICIDE TOLERANT AND/OR INSECT
RESISTANT GM COTTON LINES IN NORTHERN AUSTRALIA
The Gene
Technology Regulator (the Regulator) has made a decision to
issue a licence in respect of application DIR 066/2006 from
Monsanto Australia Ltd. The company has received approval
for the unrestricted commercial release of five genetically
modified (GM) herbicide tolerant and/or insect resistant
cotton lines in northern Australia.
These GM
cotton lines have previously been approved for commercial
release in southern Australia. However, their cultivation
was restricted to south of latitude 22° S due to uncertainty
whether insect resistant GM cotton was more likely than
non-GM cotton to become a weed in northern Australia.
The decision
to issue the licence was made after comprehensive analysis
of new research information which addressed this issue and
involved 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 north of latitude 22°S.
As required
by the Gene Technology Act 2000 and corresponding State and
Territory legislation, 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, and complete finalised
RARMP, together with the licence conditions, a set of
Questions and Answers on this decision and a link to a
document outlining potential cotton growing areas in
northern Australia 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
