Australia's Gene Technology Regulator (the Regulator) has made a decision to issue a licence in respect of application DIR 058/2005 from Deltapine Australia Pty Ltd. The applicant has received approval to undertake a limited and controlled release of genetically modified (GM) insect resistant cotton lines (COT102, COT202 and COT203). The small scale trial may take place on up to two sites in the shires of Narrabri, NSW and Emerald, QLD during the 2005‑06 summer growing season. Each site must not exceed half a hectare in size.

The decision to issue the licence was made after extensive consultation on the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) with the public, State and Territory governments, Australian Government agencies, the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee and relevant local councils, as required by the Gene Technology Act 2000.

Issues relating to the health and safety of people and the protection of the environment raised during the consultation process on this application were considered in finalising the RARMP and in making the decision to issue the licence.

The licence has been issued with specific licence conditions that will ensure effective implementation of the risk management plan. The specific conditions include a range of containment measures, restrictions on the use of the GM cotton lines and by-products, and post‑harvest cleaning and monitoring of the trial sites.

The Executive Summary and the complete finalised RARMP, together with the licence conditions, and a set of Questions and Answers can be obtained on-line from the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator’s website or requested via the contacts detailed below.

Office of the Gene Technology Regulator
MDP 54
PO Box 100
WODEN  ACT  2606
Australia
Telephone: 1800 181 030
Facsimile: 02 6271 4202
http://www.ogtr.gov.au

Additional documents on DIR 058/2005: http://www.ogtr.gov.au/ir/dir058.htm