invitation to comment
CONSUlTATION rarmp for Licence
APPLICATION dir 082/2007 FROM victorian department of
primary industries
Limited and Controlled
Release of Genetically Modified (GM) Perennial Ryegrass and
Tall Fescue
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 082/2007 from the Victorian Department of
Primary Industries for a
limited and controlled release to undertake proof of concept
research with up to 500 perennial ryegrass and tall fescue
lines, genetically modified for improved forage qualities.
The purpose
of the trial is to conduct experiments with the GM
perennial ryegrass and tall fescue lines to assess their agronomic
performance and forage properties under field conditions.
The release is proposed to take place at one site in the
shire of Southern Grampians, Victoria, on a total area of up
to 800 m2 between 2008 and 2010. None of the GM
plant materials from the trial will 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 limit the release to the
size, location and duration requested by Victorian
Department of Primary Industries.
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 082/2007 in any correspondence.
Submissions
should be received by close of business on 4 July 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
