Biotech Updates

Australia Approves New GM Cotton Trial

November 16, 2007

Australia’s Office of the Gene Technology Regulator has approved the controlled and limited release of Monsanto’s GM G. barbadense cotton lines containing introduced genes for insect resistance and herbicide tolerance. The approval was made after the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan’s (RARMP) extensive consultation with the public, state and territory governments, the Minister for Environment and Water Resources, and the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee. The trial was authorized to take place in 13 sites of not more than 2 hectares per site (26 hectares in total) in New South Wales and Queensland over a two-year period (2007-2009).

Read the press release at http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/dir074notific.pdf or http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/dir074execsum.pdf