AgroPages-Australia approves field trial for the University of Melbourne's GM wheat-Agricultural news

The Australian Regulator has issued licence DIR 165 to the University of Melbourne, authorising the limited and controlled release (field trial) of wheat genetically modified (GM) for altered iron uptake, transport and bioavailability.

The Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) and the licence were finalised taking into account input received during consultation with the public, State and Territory governments, Australian Government agencies, the Minister for the Environment, the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee and local councils. The Regulator thanks submitters for their contributions.

Submissions are summarised in Appendix A and Appendix B of the RARMP, together with information about how the issues raised relating to risks to human health and safety or the environment were considered in preparing and finalising the RARMP.

The finalised RARMP concludes that this field trial poses negligible risks to the health and safety of people and the environment, thus it does not require specific risk treatment measures. However, licence conditions have been imposed to limit the size, location and duration of the release and to restrict spread and persistence of the GMOs and their genetic material in the environment, as these were important considerations for risk assessment.

The finalised RARMP, a summary of the RARMP, the licence and Questions and Answers about this decision can be obtained online from the DIR 165 page of the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator’s website or requested via the contacts detailed below. An interactive map showing locations of field trial sites, once planted, can also be found on the OGTR website.