Australia
April 11. 2018
On 25 January 2018, the Gene Technology Regulator invited submissions on the consultation version of the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) for licence application DIR 156 from RMIT University.
The Regulator has now issued a licence in response to application DIR 156, authorising the limited and controlled release (field trial) of buffalo grass genetically modified (GM) for herbicide tolerance and dwarf phenotype.
The field trial is authorised to take place between April 2018 and April 2019 in Bundoora, Victoria, on a maximum area of 200 m2 per year. The purpose of the field trial is to assess the agronomic characteristics of the GM buffalo grass. The GM buffalo grass grown in this field trial would not be used for human food or animal feed.
The Regulator’s decision to issue the licence was made after consultation on the RARMP with the public, State and Territory governments, Australian Government agencies, the Minister for the Environment, the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee and local councils, as required by the Gene Technology Act 2000 and the corresponding State and Territory legislation.
The Regulator wishes to thank submitters for their contributions. She considered all submissions provided during the consultation process that related to the health and safety of people or the protection of the environment. The comments were considered in the context of current scientific information and used in finalising the RARMP. The finalised RARMP informed the Regulator’s decision to issue the licence.
The finalised RARMP concludes that this limited and controlled release poses negligible risks to the health and safety of people and the environment and does not require specific risk treatment measures. However, licence conditions have been imposed to restrict spread and persistence of the GMOs and their genetic material in the environment and to limit the release in size, location and duration, as these were important considerations in the evaluation process.
Appendix A of the RARMP summarises the advice received from prescribed experts, agencies and authorities, and Appendix B the submission received from the public. The appendices indicate how issues raised relating to risks to human health and safety or the environment were considered in preparing and finalising the document.
The finalised RARMP, together with a summary of the RARMP, a set of Questions and Answers on this decision and a copy of the licence, can be obtained on-line from the DIR 156 page of the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator’s website or requested via the contacts detailed below.
DIR 156 documents
The following documents are available for DIR 156:
Questions and Answers on licence decision
A series of questions and corresponding answers on the licence application and the Regulator’s decision to issue a licence for this application.
PDF format - 70 KB
DOCX format - 24 KB
Summary of Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan
The document summarises the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan prepared as part of the assessment of this application. It provides a brief description of the licence application, the risk assessment and risk management plan.
PDF format - 132 KB
DOCX format - 53 KB
Full Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan
The document details the risk assessment and risk management plan prepared as part of the Regulator’s decision making process for this application. It explains the risk assessment context, provides an assessment of risks posed by the GMO(s) and details whether any of those risks require management. It also includes a summary of submissions received during the public consultation process.
PDF format - 668 KB
DOCX format - 454 KB
Licence Conditions
The document explains the licence conditions imposed by the Regulator. It provides details of the licence holder’s obligations, including both general conditions required in all licences and specific conditions for this licence, as well as reporting requirements.
PDF format - 270 KB
DOCX format - 132 KB
Reference Material
Risk Analysis Framework for licence applications to the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (2013)
The Biology of Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walter) Kuntze (buffalo grass)
Office of the Gene Technology Regulator
MDP 54 GPO Box 9848 CANBERRA ACT 2601 Tel: 1800 181 030 E-mail: ogtr@health.gov.au
OGTR Website
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