Australia
July 17, 2020
The Gene Technology Regulator (the Regulator) has made a determination to include dealings with cut flowers of three genetically modified (GM) carnation lines on the GMO Register in response to application REG‑002 from International Flower Developments Pty Ltd (IFD). The determination to include the dealings with GM carnations on the GMO Register comes into effect on 17 July 2020. When the determination comes into effect, it will not be necessary for people conducting the dealings to hold or be covered by a GMO licence.
The dealings to be included on the GMO Register are import, transport and disposal of cut flowers from three GM carnations, enabling commercial distribution and sale of the cut flowers. The dealings have been authorised under the licence for DIR 134 since 2015. The carnation lines – marketed as Moonaqua™, Moonberry™ and Moonvelvet™ - have been modified to produce blue/purple coloured flowers, by the insertion of genes sourced from common flowering plants. The GM carnations have a history of safe use in Australia since 2015 and for up to 20 years in other countries. Dealings with four similar lines of GM carnations, which also produce flowers with blue/purple coloured flowers, were included on the GMO Register in 2007 (Reg‑001/2004).
For dealings to be included on the GMO Register, the Regulator must be satisfied that any risks posed by the dealings are minimal and that that the dealings are safe enough to be undertaken by anyone without the need for a licence.
A consultation version of a Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) was prepared and was open for comment from the public, from Federal, State and Local governments and agencies, and from other experts. A final RARMP was prepared including consideration of all relevant submissions received during the consultation period. It concluded that the risks posed by the GM carnations were negligible and that it is not necessary for persons conducting the dealings to hold, or be covered by, a GM licence. This RARMP was used to inform the Regulator’s decision on this application.
The final RARMP for REG-002, a link to the determination and a Questions and Answers document can be found on the OGTR website under What’s New. “The biology of Dianthus caryophyllus L. (carnation)” is also available on the OGTR website.
Office of the Gene Technology Regulator
MDP 54 GPO Box 9848 CANBERRA ACT 2601
Telephone: 1800 181 030 Website: www.ogtr.gov.au
E-mail: ogtr@health.gov.au
Dealings with cut flowers of genetically modified carnations on the GMO Register
Register 002 - Notification of determination - PDF 132 KB
Register 002 - Notification of determination (Word 43 KB)
Register 002 - Full Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan - PDF 470 KB
Register 002 - Full Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (Word 948 KB)
Register 002 - Questions and Answers on determination - PDF 108 KB
Register 002 - Questions and Answers on determination (Word 25 KB)
Gene Technology (Inclusion on the GMO Register) Determination (No. 1) 2020
Reference material
Risk Analysis Framework for licence applications to the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (2013)
The biology of Dianthus caryophyllus L. (Carnation)
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