Australia
August 8, 2008
NOTIFICATION
OF APPLICATION
Receipt of licence application from the
Victorian Department of Primary Industries
for dealings involving intentional release
of genetically modified white clover: DIR
089
Application
The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator
(OGTR) has received a licence application
(DIR 089) from the Victorian Department of
Primary Industries (DPI Victoria) for an
intentional release of genetically modified
(GM) white clover into the Australian
environment which qualifies as a limited and
controlled release under section 50A of the
Gene Technology Act 2000 (the Act).
DPI Victoria is seeking approval to conduct
research with one white clover line that has
been genetically modified to resist
infection with Alfalfa mosaic virus. The
release is proposed to take place at one
site in the NSW shire of Greater Hume, on a
maximum area of 633 m2 between March 2009
and August 2011.
The GM white clover line proposed for
release in this application has been
previously approved for release under DIR
047/2003, and was the subject of four
earlier releases under the former voluntary
system overseen by the Genetic Manipulation
Advisory Committee (GMAC): PR-64, PR-64X,
PR-64X2 and PR-67. No plant materials from
the GM white clover would be used for human
food or animal feed.
Purpose of this notification
A comprehensive Risk Assessment and Risk
Management Plan (RARMP) for the application
is currently being prepared. I expect this
to be released for public comment and advice
from a broad range of experts, agencies and
authorities in October 2008. The Act
specifies a 30 day minimum consultation
period if no significant risks to human
health and safety of the environment are
identified, and a 50 day minimum
consultation period if significant risks are
identified.
In the interim, you can obtain a copy of the
application itself by contacting my Office
(see contact details below, please quote the
reference number DIR 089. As the application
is quite lengthy, you may prefer to view a
summary of the application, which is posted
on our website along with this document
(under ‘What’s New’). If you would like to
receive a hard copy of the application
summary, please contact us and we will post
it to you.
If you have questions about the application,
or how you can provide comment, please
contact the OGTR at:
The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator,
MDP 54, GPO Box 9848, Canberra, ACT, 2601
Telephone: 1800 181 030
Facsimile: 02 6271 4202
E-mail:
ogtr@health.gov.au
Website
http://www.ogtr.gov.au
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