Field Tests of GM Canola and Indian Mustard in Australia Approved

Australia's Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has issued license DIR 188 to Nuseed Pty Ltd., for the limited and controlled release (field trial) of canola and Indian mustard genetically modified (GM) for altered oil content and herbicide tolerance.

The field trial will assess the performance of the GM canola and Indian mustard under field conditions and is authorized to take place from November 2022 to January 2028. Each year, there may be up to 10 trial sites of 10 hectares and 10 trial sites of 5 hectares, with a maximum planting area of 150 hectares per year. The sites will be chosen from 96 local government areas (LGAs) in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. The GM plants grown in this field trial would not be used in commercial human food or animal feed.

The final Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) concludes that this field trial poses negligible risks to people or the environment and does not require specific risk treatment measures. The finalized RARMP, together with a summary of the RARMP, a set of Questions and Answers on this decision, and a copy of the license, are available online from the DIR 188 page on the OGTR website.