Australia
May 21, 2012
DIR 115 - Invitation to comment on GM cotton field trial
Comments close on 2 July 2012
Posted 21 May 2012
INVITATION TO COMMENT
Consultation RARMP for licence application DIR 115 from The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO): 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 115 from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) for a limited and controlled release eight types of cotton genetically modified for enhanced fibre yield.
The purpose of the trial is to evaluate the potential for increasing fibre yield by increasing expression of one or more of the three cotton genes that are involved in regulation of fibre development. The field trial is proposed to take place at one site per growing season in the local government area of Narrabri (NSW), between August 2012 and August 2015. The maximum area of a site will be 0.5 ha. The GM cotton or its products would not be used for 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. However, a range of conditions are proposed to restrict the spread and persistence of the GMOs in the environment and to limit the release in size, locations and duration, as these were important considerations in the risk assessment process.
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 115 in any correspondence.
Submissions should be received by close of business on 2 July 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 115 - Questions and Answers
DIR 115 - Consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) Executive Summary
DIR 115 - Consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) Technical Summary
DIR 115 - Full Consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) for the limited and controlled release of cotton genetically modified for enhanced fibre yield
DIR 115 - Licence Application Summary
Reference material
Risk Analysis Framework for Licence Applications to the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (3rd Edition) 2009
The Biology of Gossypium hirsutum L. and Gossypium barbadense L. (cotton) in Australia
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