Monsanto Australia welcomes today's
publication by the Federal Government's
Office of the Gene Technology
Regulator (OGTR) of the Risk Assessment and Risk
Management Plan for Roundup Ready canola.
"The OGTR's finding that Roundup Ready
canola is as safe as conventional canola for human health,
safety and the environment follows a very careful review. We
welcome the opportunity that this decision can give to
Australian farmers," said Terry Bunn, Managing Director of
Monsanto Australia.
"Many Australian growers are keen to see
Roundup Ready canola perform on their farms and today's news
moves us a step closer to that objective," said Mr Bunn.
Development of Roundup Ready canola began
in the late 1980's, with Canadian farmers first using it in
1995. Since then it has grown to be the most popular weed
control choice for Canadian growers, who chose Roundup Ready
canola for almost 50% of the canola crop in 2003.
Trials of Roundup Ready canola have been
undertaken in Australia since 1997. Trial results demonstrate
that the Roundup Ready canola system offers excellent weed
control and crop yields compared to conventional canola systems.
The benefits offered by Roundup Ready canola make it an
effective tool for sustainable agriculture in Australia.
The OGTR's decision is now open for an
eight-week public consultation period after which information
received is considered and a license for Roundup Ready canola
may be granted.
Monsanto is awaiting a regulatory decision
from the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary medicines
Authority (APVMA). The APVMA is responsible for regulating the
use of herbicides in Australia, including the use of Roundup
agricultural herbicide on Roundup Ready canola.
Monsanto recognises the need to protect
the effectiveness of Roundup herbicide and supports the use by
growers of an effective resistance management approach tailored
to local farming systems.
As part of the regulatory application
Monsanto developed and submitted a Resistance Management Plan
for the long-term sustainable use of Roundup herbicide with
Roundup Ready canola to both the OGTR and the APVMA.
Monsanto developed the Resistance
Management Plan for Roundup Ready canola with leading Australian
weed researchers including Professor Jim Pratley from Charles
Sturt University.
"It is clearly in the interests of
Monsanto and the Australian grains industry that the efficacy of
glyphosate is retained. The Resistance Management Plan is in
place to ensure that happens," said Professor Pratley.
Monsanto's objective in 2004 is to provide
Australian farmers with the opportunity to see for themselves
the benefits that Roundup Ready canola can provide and that
Roundup Ready canola can co-exist with other crops and farming
systems.
