DIR 081/2007 - Limited and controlled release of cotton genetically modified for enhanced water use efficiency
DIR 081/2007 - Invitation to Comment on a Consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) for Limited and Controlled Release of Cotton Genetically Modified for enhanced water use efficiency - Comments close on 29 August 2008 - posted 18 July 2008 (PDF 48 KB)
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/internet/ogtr/publishing.nsf/Content/dir081-3/$FILE/dir081notificon.pdf
CONSULTATION RARMP FOR LICENCE APPLICATION DIR 081/2007 FROM MONSANTO AUSTRALIA LIMITED
Limited and Controlled Release of Genetically Modified (GM) Cotton
Australia’s gene technology regulatory system is designed to protect the health and safety of people and the environment by identifying risks posed by, or as a result of, gene technology and managing those risks.
The Acting Gene Technology Regulator is currently assessing Licence Application DIR 081/2007 from Monsanto Australia Limited (Monsanto) for a limited and controlled release to undertake research with up to 504 cotton lines genetically modified for enhanced water use efficiency.
The purpose of the trial is to conduct proof of concept research involving experiments to evaluate agronomic characteristics including water use efficiency, yield and fibre quality of the GM cotton lines under optimal and water stress conditions. The trial is proposed to take place at up to twenty sites in the New South Wales local government areas (LGAs) of Balranald, Bourke, Central Darling, Carathool, Coonamble, Gunnedah, Hay, Lachlan, Moree Plains, Narrabri, Narromine, Walgett, Warren and Lake Tandou (an unincorporated area); the Queensland LGAs of Paroo, Balonne, Dalby Regional, Goondiwindi Regional, Toowoomba Regional, Somerset Regional, Brisbane City and Lockyer Valley Regional; and the Western Australia LGA of Wyndham-East Kimberley. The trial would take place on up to 80 ha from 2008-10. None of the GM plant materials from the trial is proposed to be used in human food or animal feed.
A consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) has been prepared, which concludes that the proposed release would pose negligible risk to human health and safety or to the environment. A range of licence conditions are proposed, including measures to restrict the release to the size, locations and duration requested by Monsanto.
The Acting Regulator welcomes written submissions in order to finalise the RARMP, which will then form the basis of her decision on whether to issue the licence. The consultation RARMP and related documents can be obtained from the website <http://www.ogtr.gov.au> under ‘What’s New’ or by contacting the Office. Please quote application DIR 081/2007 in any correspondence.
Submissions should be received by close of business on 29 August 2008.
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
DIR 081/2007 - Questions & Answers (PDF 17 KB)
DIR 081/2007 - Consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) Executive Summary (PDF 69 KB)
DIR 081/2007 - Consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) Technical Summary (PDF 86 KB)
DIR 081/2007 - Full Consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) for Limited and Controlled Release of Cotton Genetically Modified for enhanced water use efficiency (PDF 581 KB)
DIR 081/2007 - Licence Application Summary (PDF 62 KB)
Reference material
Risk Analysis Framework for Licence Applications to the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (2nd Edition) 2007
Related documents - The Biology of Gyssypium hirsutum L. and Gossypium barbadense L. (cotton)
Map of Local Government Areas where cotton is grown