Australia
February 13, 2012
DIR 113 - Invitation to comment on a consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan for the limited and controlled release of cotton genetically modified for insect resistance and herbicide tolerance - comments close on 26 March 2012 - posted 13 February 2012
INVITATION TO COMMENT
Consultation RARMP for licence application DIR 113 from Bayer CropScience Pty Ltd:
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 Gene Technology Regulator is currently assessing Licence Application DIR 113 from Bayer CropScience Pty Ltd (Bayer) for a limited and controlled release of up to 11 types of cotton genetically modified for insect resistance and herbicide tolerance.
The purpose of the trial is to assess the agronomic performance of the GM cotton varieties under field conditions, and to produce seed for use in further studies or releases. The trial is proposed to take place at up to six sites per year in the local government areas of Narrabri Shire (NSW), Wyndham-East Kimberly (WA) and Central Highlands (Qld) between May 2012 and May 2015. The maximum area of plantings would be 6 ha in the first year and 36 ha in the second and third years, giving a maximum cumulative area of 78 ha. The GM cotton would not be permitted to enter 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 Bayer.
The Regulator welcomes written submissions in order to finalise the RARMP, which will then form the basis of a decision on whether or not 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 113 in any correspondence.
Submissions should be received by close of business on 26 March 2012.
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 113 - Questions and Answers
DIR 113 - Consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) Executive Summary
DIR 113 - Consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) Technical Summary
DIR 113 - Full consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) for the limited and controlled release of cotton genetically modified for insect resistance and herbicide tolerance
DIR 113 - Licence Application Summary
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