Australia
January 22, 2010

NOTIFICATION OF APPLICATION
DIR 102 - Notification of licence application: Limited and controlled release of wheat and barley genetically modified for abiotic stress tolerance

Receipt of licence application from the University of Adelaide for dealings involving intentional release of genetically modified wheat and barley: DIR 102

Application

The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has received a licence application (DIR 102) from the University of Adelaide for an intentional release of genetically modified (GM) wheat and barley into the Australian environment 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 with up to 2340 lines of wheat and barley genetically modified for abiotic stress tolerance in the open environment. The release is proposed to take place at three sites, two in the local government areas (LGAs) of Marion and Wakefield (South Australia) and one in the LGA of Corrigin (Western Australia) on a maximum total area of 0.75 ha per year over five years from June 2010 to December 2015.

No plant materials from the GM wheat and barley would be used for human food or animal feed.

Purpose of this notification

A comprehensive Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) for the application is currently being prepared. I expect this to be released for public comment and advice from a broad range of experts, agencies and authorities in April 2010. The Act specifies a 30 day minimum consultation period if no significant risks to human health and safety or the environment are identified, and a 50 day minimum consultation period if significant risks are identified.

In the interim, you can obtain a copy of the application itself by contacting my Office (see contact details below, please quote the reference number DIR 102). 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 would like to receive a hard copy of the application summary, please contact us and we will post it to you.

If you have questions about the application, or how you can provide comment, please contact the OGTR at:
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@health.gov.au
Website http://www.ogtr.gov.au
 

DIR 102 - Licence Application Summary (PDF 66 KB

Website: http://www.ogtr.gov.au

Published: January 22, 2010