Australia
April 9, 2010

INVITATION TO COMMENT

CONSULTATION RARMP FOR LICENCE APPLICATION DIR 100 FROM CSIRO
Limited and Controlled Release of Genetically Modified (GM) Wheat

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 100 from the Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) for a limited and controlled release to undertake research with up to 150 lines of wheat genetically modified for enhanced carbon assimilation in drought and heat prone environments.

The purpose of the trial is to assess the agronomic performance, including biomass production, grain weight and yield of the GM wheat lines under rain-fed and drought/heat prone conditions. The trial is proposed to take place in the Queensland local government area of Redland, on a maximum area of 0.1 ha per season, between May 2010 and December 2013. The GM wheat 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, location and duration requested by CSIRO.

The Regulator welcomes written submissions, on issues relating to the protection of human health and safety and the environment, in order to finalise the RARMP, which will then form the basis of a decision on whether or not to issue the licence. The consultation RARMP and related documents can be obtained from the website under ‘What’s New’ or by contacting the Office.
Please quote application DIR 100 in any correspondence.

Submissions should be received by close of business on 25 May 2010.

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 100 - Questions & Answers (PDF 14 KB)

DIR 100 - Consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) Executive Summary (PDF 63 KB)

DIR 100 - Consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) Technical Summary (PDF 70 KB)

DIR 100 - Full Consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) for limited and controlled release of wheat genetically modified for enhanced carbon assimilation in drought and heat prone environments (PDF 450 KB)

DIR 100 - Licence Application Summary (PDF 65 KB)

Reference material

Risk Analysis Framework for Licence Applications to the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator 2009

The Biology of Triticum aestivum L. em Thell (Wheat) (2008 version)

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

Published: April 9, 2010