Australia
August, 2007
Communique of the Gene
Technology Technical Advisory Committee meeting of 15 May 2007
(excerpts relevant to seed professionals)
This is the twentieth communiqué of the Gene Technology
Technical Advisory Committee (GTTAC). It covers matters
considered at the thirtieth meeting of GTTAC, held on 15 May
2007.
GTTAC is a statutory advisory committee to the
Gene Technology Regulator
(the Regulator) and the Gene Technology Ministerial Council. All
Committee members and expert advisers hold office on a part-time
basis.
The Regulator receives input from GTTAC on applications for
licences to conduct dealings with genetically modified organisms
(GMOs), as well as comments on the Risk Assessment and Risk
Management Plans (RARMPs) that are prepared for these
applications and form the basis of the Regulator’s decision
whether to issue a licence.
The purpose of this Communiqué is to provide a brief overview of
the applications and RARMPs considered by GTTAC and the advice
the Committee has provided to the Regulator with regard to those
applications and RARMPs.
The Communiqué also provides an overview of any other major
issues discussed by GTTAC.
Dealings Involving the Intentional Release of Genetically
Modified Organisms
Dealings Involving the Intentional Release (DIRs) of GMOs into
the Australian environment are dealings that are undertaken
outside of a certified physical containment facility. DIRs may
involve the limited and controlled release (field trial) of a
GMO or other (eg a commercial or general) release of a GMO.
A Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) is prepared
in respect of every licence application for a DIR licence and
released for public comment as part of the consultation process
for these applications. Information on how to obtain copies of
applications and RARMPs for DIRs is provided at the end of this
document.
ADVICE ON APPLICATIONS
DIR 073/2007
Deltapine Australia Pty Ltd: Limited and controlled release of
GM insect resistant and insect resistant/herbicide tolerant
cotton
The OGTR has received an application from Deltapine Australia
Pty Ltd to conduct field trials of up to four GM cotton lines on
up to 50 sites with a maximum total area of 500 hectares over
three growing seasons.
The four cotton lines contain either the vip3A or the cry1Ab
insect resistance gene, or both, and one line, which contains
both of these genes, also contains the genetic modification
commercially known as Roundup Ready Flex®, which comprises two
copies of the herbicide tolerance gene cp4 epsps.
The aims of the proposed field trial are to conduct early stage
research to: evaluate the agronomic performance and efficacy of
the GM cotton lines; collect data to support future applications
to the OGTR and other regulators (including investigating the
impact of the GM cotton on non-target organisms); breed, select
and test new cotton lines; and produce seed for use in further
studies or future trials, subject to additional approvals.
The Committee discussed matters related to the application
including the implications of gene stacking, possible effects on
non-target organisms and seed disposal, particularly the
proposal that some seed be disposed of by burial.
GTTAC advised the Regulator that it is important that burial
sites be monitored.
DIR 074/2007
Monsanto Australia Ltd: Limited and controlled release of insect
and herbicide tolerant Gossypium barbadense
GTTAC considered an application from Monsanto Australia Ltd to
trial three GM Gossypium barbadense cottons on up to three sites
in the first year and up to ten sites in the second year to a
maximum total area of 26 hectares, over two summer growing
seasons.
Bollgard II® G. barbadense contains two insect resistance genes
(cry1Ac and cry2Ab) derived from the common soil bacterium
Bacillus thuringiensis. Roundup Ready Flex® G. barbadense
contains two copies of the herbicide tolerance gene, cp4 epsps,
derived from Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Roundup Ready
Flex®/Bollgard II® G. barbadense will be produced by
conventionally crossing Roundup Ready Flex® G. barbadense and
Bollgard II® G. barbadense. G. hirsutum containing the same
genetic modifications is grown commercially as Bollgard II®
cotton, Roundup Ready Flex® cotton and Roundup Ready
Flex®/Bollgard II® cotton respectively.
The Committee discussed whether the application posed new risks
due to the taxonomically distinct species. The Committee
discussed the issues of outcrossing and weediness, and whether
the associated risks would likely be the same as with GM G.
hirsutum.
GTTAC requested that the OGTR provide the Committee with a
number of the appendices to the application regarding agronomic
performance and additional information on the effectiveness of
pollen traps for further consideration and comment when the
RARMP is provided to the Committee.
Advice on RARMPs
GTTAC considered the consultation RARMPs prepared by the OGTR in
response to the following applications:
DIR 071/2006
Victorian Department of Primary Industries: Limited and
controlled release of GM drought tolerant wheat
The Victorian Department of Primary Industries has applied for
approval of a limited and controlled release of up to 30 GM
wheat lines modified to enhance drought tolerance. The small
scale field trial would be carried out at two sites in Horsham
and Mildura, Victoria, on a maximum total area of 0.315 hectares
over one growing season.
The purpose of the proposed trial is to conduct early stage
(‘proof of concept’) research to evaluate the agronomic
performance, including yield, of the GM wheat lines under
rain-fed, drought prone conditions. Seed would also be collected
and retained for analysis and, if any lines are selected for
further development for possible future trials (subject to
additional approvals).
GTTAC advised the Regulator that:
- the Committee agrees with the risk assessment by the OGTR; and
- the Committee agrees that the proposed licence conditions are
appropriate to contain the release to the location, size and
duration of the trial. However, it is not necessary that the
fence surrounding the trial site be rabbit-proof.
Presentations
The following presentations were made to GTTAC:
• Drosophila melanogaster: a short history
• Post Release Review (PRR) Framework for Commercial Release of
GMOs in Australia
• Overview of anticipated amendments to the Gene Technology Act
2000 and Gene Technology Regulations 2001
Enquiries and Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plans
For all enquiries and to obtain copies of applications or RARMPs
for dealings involving the intentional release of GMOs into the
environment, please phone the OGTR Free-call hotline on 1800 181
030. The RARMPs are also available electronically from our
website at
http://www.ogtr.gov.au
Full communique:
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/committee/20thcommgttac.pdf
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