DIR 092 - Limited and controlled release of wheat genetically modified for altered grain composition
DIR 092 - Invitation to comment on consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) for limited and controlled release of wheat genetically modified for altered grain composition - posted 19 March 2009

INVITATION TO COMMENT
CONSULTATION RARMP FOR LICENCE APPLICATION DIR 092 FROM CSIRO
Limited and Controlled Release of Genetically Modified (GM) Wheat

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 092 from CSIRO for a limited and controlled release to undertake research with 16 wheat lines genetically modified for altered grain composition.

The purpose of the trial is to evaluate grain properties of the GM wheat lines grown under field conditions. Some seed would be collected and retained for analysis and possible future trials, subject to further approval(s). The trial is proposed to take place, under limited and controlled conditions, at one site in the ACT, on a maximum area of 1 ha from 2009-2012. Plant materials from the GM wheat will not enter the commercial animal feed or human food supply chain. However, some products made from the GM wheat may be fed to rats and pigs in controlled laboratory experiments.

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, location and duration requested by CSIRO.

The Acting Regulator welcomes written submissions in order to finalise the RARMP, which will then form the basis of a 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 092 in any correspondence.

Submissions should be received by close of business on 4 May 2009.

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 092 - Questions and Answers (PDF 17 KB)

DIR 092 - Consultation Risk ASsessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) Executive Summary (PDF 69 KB)

DIR 092 - Consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) Technical Summary (PDF 80 KB)

DIR 092 - Full consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) for limited and controlled release of wheat genetically modified for altered grain composition (PDF 714 KB)

DIR 092 - Licence Application Summary (PDF 74 KB)

Reference material

Risk Analysis Framework for Licence Applications to the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator 2007

Related Documents - The Biology of Triticum aestivum L. em Thell. (Bread Wheat) (2008 version)