Australia
November 25, 2009

NOTIFICATION OF DECISION

ISSUE OF LICENCE DIR 091 TO DOW AGROSCIENCE LTD FOR THE COMMERCIAL RELEASE OF GM COTTON
DIR 091 - Notification of decision to issue a licence on application - posted 25 November 2009 (PDF 44 KB)

The Gene Technology Regulator has made a decision to issue a licence in respect of application DIR 091 from Dow AgroSciences Australia Ltd (Dow). The applicant has received approval for the commercial release of WideStrike™ Insect Protection Cotton, genetically modified for insect resistance. The licence permits growing of the GMO in all current cotton growing areas south of 22º South, and the use of cotton seed in animal feed Australia-wide, including northern Australia where measures to limit the potential spread and persistence of the GMOs have been imposed.

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, Heritage and the Arts, the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee and all relevant local councils, as required by the Gene Technology Act 2000 and corresponding State and Territory laws.

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

The Executive Summary, Technical Summary and complete finalised RARMP, together with a set of Questions and Answers on this decision and a copy of the licence, 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 GPO Box 9848 CANBERRA ACT 2601 Telephone: 1800 181 030, Facsimile: 02 6271 4202 http://www.ogtr.gov.au

DIR 091 - Question and Answers (PDF 25 KB)

DIR 091 - Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) Executive Summary (PDF 74 KB)

DIR 091 - Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) Technical Summary (PDF 111 KB)

DIR 091 - Full Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) for commercial release of cotton genetically modified for insect resistance (WideStrike™ Insect Protection Cotton) (PDF 1.45 MB)

DIR 091 - Licence application summary (PDF 74 KB)

DIR 091 - GM Cotton licence Conditions (PDF 146 KB)

Reference material

Risk Analysis Framework for Licence Applications to the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator 2007

The Biology of Gossypium hirsutum L. and Gossypium barbadese L. (cotton) in Australia

Map of Local Government Areas where cotton is grown
 

Website: http://www.dowagro.com

Published: November 25, 2009