Australia
April 20, 2010

DIR 102 - Invitation to comment on a consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan for limited and controlled release of wheat and barley genetically modified for abiotic stress tolerance - comments close on 1 June 2010

INVITATION TO COMMENT
CONSULTATION RARMP FOR LICENCE APPLICATION DIR 102
FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE

Limited and Controlled Release of Genetically Modified (GM) Wheat and Barley

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 102 from the University of Adelaide for a limited and controlled release to undertake research with up to 1161 lines of wheat and 1179 lines of barley genetically modified for enhanced nutrient utilisation and abiotic stress tolerance.

The purpose of the trial is to assess the agronomic performance of the GM wheat and barley lines for biomass production, grain weight and yield under rain-fed, drought and saline soil conditions. The trial is proposed to take place at three sites, two in the South Australian local government areas of Marion and Wakefield and one in the Western Australian local government area of Corrigin, on a maximum area of 0.75 ha, between June 2010 and December 2015. 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 limit the release to the size, locations and duration requested by the University of Adelaide and to control the spread and persistence of the GM wheat and barley and their genetic material.

The Regulator welcomes written submissions 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 102 in any correspondence.

Submissions should be received by close of business on 1 June 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 102 - Questions & Answers (PDF 14 KB)

DIR 102 - Consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) Executive Summary (PDF 63 KB)

DIR 102 - Consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) Technical Summary (PDF 70 KB)

DIR 102 - Full Consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) for limited and controlled release of wheat and barley genetically modified for abiotic stress tolerance (PDF 487 KB)

DIR 102 - Licence Application Summary (PDF 66 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)

The Biology of Hordeum vulgare L. (Barley) (2008 version)

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

Published: April 20, 2010