Biotech Updates

Australian OGTR Issues License for Limited and Controlled Release of GM Wheat and Barley

July 2, 2010

The Australian Office of Gene Technology Regulator has decided to issue a license for the application of the University of Adelaide to conduct the limited and controlled release of up to 1161 lines of wheat and 1179 lines of barley genetically modified for enhanced nutrition utilization and abiotic stress tolerance. The tests will be conducted  in the local government areas of Marion and Wakefield (South Australia) and one in Corrigin (Western Australia), on a maximum area of 0.75 ha per season, between June 2010 and December 2015.

The decision was reached after an extensive consultation on the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) with the public, State and Territory governments, Australian Government agencies, the Minister for the Environment, the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee and relevant local councils, as required by the Gene Technology Act 2000 and corresponding State and Territory laws.

See the related documents and the announcement at http://www.ogtr.gov.au/internet/ogtr/publishing.nsf/Content/dir102