Australia
June 24, 2013
DIR 123 - Notification of application
Receipt of licence application (DIR 123) from Nuseed Pty Ltd for field trial of GM canola
Application
The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has received a licence application from Nuseed Pty Ltd (Nuseed) for the intentional release of genetically modified (GM) canola into the environment (DIR 123), which qualifies as a limited and controlled release under section 50A of the Gene Technology Act 2000 (the Act).
Nuseed is seeking approval to conduct a field trial of canola genetically modified for altered oil content. The trial is proposed to take place between March 2014 and March 2019, with trial sites selected from 153 possible local government areas (LGAs) in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia. The trial will be conducted at a maximum of four sites of up to 2 hectares (ha) in 2014, six sites of up to 10 ha in 2015 and ten sites of up to 20 ha in the subsequent years. The applicant has proposed a number of control measures to restrict the spread and persistence of the GM plants and their introduced genetic material. The GM canola will not be used for human food or animal feed as part of this limited and controlled release.
Purpose of this notification
This notification provides early information about the above application and the assessment process, including a forthcoming opportunity to comment. Advice about this application is not being sought at this stage of the assessment process. A comprehensive Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) for the application is currently being prepared. This is expected to be released for public comment and advice from a broad range of experts, agencies and authorities in September 2013. A period of at least 30 days will be allowed for submission of comments, as required by the Act.
In the interim, you can obtain a copy of the application by contacting my Office (contact details below; please quote application DIR 123). As the application is quite lengthy, you may prefer to view a summary of the application, which is posted on our website along with this document (under ‘What’s New’).
If you have any questions or would like to receive a hard copy of the application summary, please contact the OGTR.
The 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 Website
Dr Joe Smith
Gene Technology Regulator
24 June 2013
PDF version of DIR 123 – Notification of GM canola field trial licence application
PDF version of DIR 123 – Licence Application Summary
Topics
Species
