NOTIFICATION THAT DEALINGS
WITH GENETICALLY MODIFIED CARNATION LINES HAVE BEEN INCLUDED
ON THE GMO REGISTER
Section 78 of the Gene
Technology Act 2000 provides for the Gene Technology
Regulator (the Regulator) to place genetically modified
organisms (GMOs), which have been previously licensed, pose
minimal risks to people or the environment, and are
sufficiently safe to be used by anyone without the need for
a licence, on the GMO Register.
On 28 November 2006, the Gene Technology Regulator (the
Regulator) made a determination, in response to an
application from Florigene Pty Ltd, to include dealings with
four genetically modified (GM) carnation lines on the GMO
Register. The determination is a disallowable Legislative
Instrument and therefore must be tabled in Parliament for a
period of 15 sitting days during which Parliament has an
opportunity to ‘disallow’ the determination.
The Regulator decided that the determination would come into
effect only after Parliament had an opportunity to
scrutinise the determination. The 15 sitting day period has
now elapsed without a notice of motion for disallowance.
Accordingly, the specified dealings with four lines of GM
carnations have been included on the GMO Register. This is
the first entry on the GMO Register.
The dealings were previously licensed under DIR 030/2002 and
involve the ongoing, commercial release of four GM carnation
lines (Moonlite™, Moonshade™, Moonshadow™ and Moonvista™)
modified for violet, mauve or purple flower colour. The
dealings include the propagation, growth, and distribution
of both GM plants and cut flowers Australia wide. Commercial
scale dealings with the GM carnation lines have been
occurring in Australia since 1995 and over 4.5 million GM
carnation flowers have been sold.
The Risk Assessment for Register 001/2004, documents
relating to Licence DIR 030/2002, the revised ‘Biology and
Ecology of Dianthus caryophyllus L’, and Questions
and Answers about the determination can be obtained on-line
from the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator’s website
or requested via the contacts detailed below.
The Office
of the Gene Technology Regulator
PO Box 100
Woden, ACT, 2606
http://www.ogtr.gov.au
Telephone: 1800 181 030
Facsimile: 02 6271 4202
E-mail:
ogtr@health.gov.au
