Australia invites comments on GM safflower field trial approval

The Australian Gene Technology Regulator, the Australian Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR), invites comment on its consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) on genetically modified safflower. 

 

The primary purpose of the field trial is to evaluate the oil content and agronomic performance of GM safflower under field conditions in various regions around Australia, and provide enough extracted oil for product development and testing as feedstock in industrial processes.

The trial is proposed to take place at 45 sites in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, ACT and Western Australia from January 2015 to August 2019. The maximum cumulative planting area of the trial would be 850 hectares over the 4 years. The GM safflower would not be used in human food or animal feed.

 

After assessing Licence Application DIR 131 from CSIRO for a limited and controlled release of safflower that has been genetically modified for high oleic acid composition, the OGTR concludes that the proposed release would pose negligible risk to human health and safety or to the environment. A range of draft licence conditions would limit the size, locations and duration of the release, as well as restrict the spread and persistence of the GMOs and the introduced genetic material.

 

Comments on OGTR’s RARMP will be closed on January 6th 2015.