Australia
January 30, 2014
DIR 128 - Notification of Licence Application: Limited and controlled release of wheat and barley genetically modified for abiotic stress tolerance or micronutrient uptake
DIR 128 - Notification of application
Receipt of licence application (DIR 128) from The University of Adelaide for field trial of GM wheat and barley
Application
The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has received a licence application from The University of Adelaide for the intentional release of genetically modified (GM) wheat and barley into the environment (DIR 128), which qualifies as a limited and controlled release under section 50A of the Gene Technology Act 2000 (the Act).
The University of Adelaide is seeking approval to conduct a field trial of wheat and barley genetically modified for various abiotic stress tolerances and micronutrient uptake. The trial is proposed to take place between June 2014 and December 2019 at five sites, two in South Australia and three in Western Australia. The collective maximum area of the trial will be 2.5 hectares per season. 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 wheat and barley 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 April 2014. 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 128). 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.
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
OGTR Website
Dr Joe Smith
Gene Technology Regulator
30 January 2014
DIR 128 – Licence Application Summary
Topics
Species
