Australia
June 1, 2010

DIR 103 - Invitation to comment on a consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan for the limited and controlled release of canola genetically modified for enhanced yield and delayed leaf senescence - Comments close on 13 July 2010

INVITATION TO COMMENT

CONSULTATION RARMP FOR LICENCE APPLICATION DIR 103 FROM DPI VICTORIA
Limited and Controlled Release of Genetically Modified (GM) Canola

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 103 from the Victorian Department of Primary Industries (DPI Victoria) for a limited and controlled release of up to 10 lines of canola genetically modified for enhanced yield and delayed leaf senescence.

The purpose of the trial is to conduct experiments to evaluate agronomic performance, including seed yield, of the GM canola lines under field conditions. The trial is proposed to take place at two sites in the Victorian local government areas of Horsham and Southern Grampians, on a maximum area of 0.8 ha per growing season, between the date of issue of the licence and May 2012. The GM canola would not be used for human food or animal feed as part of this release.
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, locations and duration requested by DPI Victoria.

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 http://www.ogtr.gov.au under ‘What’s New’ or by contacting the Office. Please quote application DIR 103 in any correspondence.

Submissions should be received by close of business on 13 July 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 103 - Questions & Answers (PDF 14 KB)

DIR 103 - Consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) Executive Summary (PDF 74 KB)

DIR 103 - Consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) Technical Summary (PDF 82 KB)

DIR 103 - Full consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) for the limited and controlled release of canola genetically modified for enhanced yield and delayed leaf senescence (PDF 423 KB)

DIR 103 - Licence Application Summary (PDF 66 KB)

Reference material

Risk Analysis Framework for Licence Applications to the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (3rd Edition) 2009

The Biology of Brassica napus L. (canola)

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

Published: June 1, 2010