OGTR stops clock on GM canola
Friday, 20 June, 2003
The OGTR has stopped the clock for a second time on Bayer CropScience's application for commercial release of its InVigor genetically modified canola.
The delay is expected to be one month in duration and is so that the OGTR can examine all relevant procedural issues.
Bayer CropScience general manager Susie O'Neill said that the company was disappointed with the delay especially as it occurred so close to the expected approval date. But she noted that the OGTR was satisfied with the information provided to it by Bayer regarding health and safety issues.
In any case, O'Neill said, Bayer was not planning to plant commercial crops of GM canola this year; instead the company would continue field trials.
New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia have recently introduced one to three year moratorium periods on commercial GM crops in order to assess marketing and trade implications, and South Australia's government is still considering the issue. But all States have agreed to allow previously approved field trials to continue.
Monsanto Australia is also waiting for the OGTR to restart the clock on its application for the commercial release of its RoundUp Ready GM canola. The agency stopped the clock to allow independent advice on herbicide use to be submitted.
Once provided, the OGTR will release a Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan for the commercial release of Monsanto's GM canola variety.
Monsanto's application to continue commercial release of RoundUp Ready and RoundUp Ready/Ingard varieties of cotton in NSW and Queensland below latitude 22 degrees south has been approved.
In recent days, the OGTR has also issued licenses for field trials of a number of crops including pineapples, papayas and grapevines, the latter as a continuation of authorisation from the agency's predecessor, the Genetic Manipulation Advisory Committee (GMAC). In addition, a new license has been issued for the continued commercial release of Florigene's GM carnations, again to replace previous GMAC authorisation.
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