Australia
September 3, 2009
DIR 096 - Limited and controlled release of sugarcane genetically modified for herbicide tolerance
DIR 096 - Invitation to comment on a consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan for limited and controlled release of sugarcane genetically modified for herbicide tolerance - Comments close on 14 October 2009
INVITATION TO COMMENT
CONSULTATION RARMP FOR LICENCE APPLICATION DIR 096 FROM BSES LTD
Limited and Controlled Release of Genetically Modified (GM) Sugarcane
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 096 from BSES Ltd for a limited and controlled release to undertake research with 6,000 lines of sugarcane genetically modified for herbicide tolerance.
The purpose of the trial is to evaluate agronomic properties of the GM sugarcane lines grown under field conditions. Promising lines would be selected for crossing under controlled conditions to non-GM sugarcane cultivars for possible future commercial development (subject to additional approvals). The trial is proposed to take place on six BSES stations in the Queensland shires of Moreton Bay Regional Council, Bundaberg Regional Council, Mackay Regional Council, Burdekin Shire Council and Cairns Regional Council, on a maximum area of 26 ha, between November 2009 and November 2015. The GM sugarcane 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. A range of licence conditions are proposed, including measures to restrict the release to the size and locations and duration requested by BSES Ltd.
The 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 096 in any correspondence.
Submissions should be received by close of business on 14 October 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 096 - Questions and Answers (PDF 17 KB)
DIR 096 - Consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) Executive Summary (PDF 66 KB)
DIR 096 - Consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) Technical Summary (PDF 126 KB)
DIR 096 - Full Consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) for limited and controlled release of sugarcane genetically modified for herbicide tolerance (PDF 808 KB)
DIR 096 - Licence application summary (PDF 118 KB)
Reference Material
Risk Analysis Framework for Licence Applications to the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator 2007
The Biology of the Saccharum spp. (Sugarcane) (2008 version)
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