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Cultivation
In 2002, after six years of field trials, two companies, Bayer CropScience and Monsanto Australia, applied to Australia’s Gene Technology Regulator, the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR), for commercial release approvals for the cultivation of their genetically modified (GM) canolas for use in the Australian cropping system.
The OGTR is responsible for investigating any GM product in relation to the risks it may pose to human health and the environment. Risks they consider for products such as GM crops include the weediness potential of the new variety, and herbicide resistance or insect resistance where relevant.
Following more than 12 months of extensive evaluation and public consultation, the Regulator concluded that the two GM canolas were “as safe to human health, safety and the environment as non-GM canola” and announced the commercial approval of both canola types in 2003.
Bayer CropScience’s InVigor® hybrid canola is tolerant to the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium. The Regulator’s full determination on the Bayer licence can be found on the OGTR website.
Monsanto’s Roundup Ready® GM canola variety can tolerate applications of the glyphosate herbicide, and the documentation relating to the Regulator’s decision about this product can also be found on the OGTR website.
Food use
In addition to approvals to cultivate the canola, the use of foods derived from both the GM canolas has also been approved by Food Standards Australia New Zealand, Australia’s food regulator. The safety assessment information for Bayer CropScience’s GM canola is available here. The risk analysis report for Roundup Ready® GM canola can be found here.
Herbicide use
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) also registered the herbicides Roundup Ready® for use on the Roundup Ready® canola and Liberty to be used on the InVigor® canola variety. The issue of herbicide resistance management was considered in the registration of these products. The APVMA applied registration conditions to provide for the responsible use of the herbicides and to minimise the potential for the development of herbicide resistance. For more information about the APVMA registration process click here.
Market considerations
As noted, the OGTR regulates for human health, safety and the environment, but not for marketing issues. There is, however, provision within Australia’s gene technology legislation for state and territory governments to create zones free of GM crops for the “purpose of preserving the identity of one or both of GM or non-GM crops for marketing purposes.”
Following the commercial approvals of GM canola at the Federal level, all canola growing states and territories in Australia imposed bans on the commercial production of the two GM canolas for marketing purposes. Since this time, government and industry have sought to clarify issues relating to areas such as trade and the ability of the grains supply chain to meet market requirements.
- NSW
In 2007, after a review of the GM canola ban, the NSW Government announced that GM canola could now be grown in the state.
- Victoria
The Victorian Government also conducted a review of its GM canola legislation and announced that the bans in place would be allowed to lapse in February 2008.
- South Australia
The South Australian Government also announced a review of its GM Crop Management Act legislation in 2007. Unlike the governments of NSW and Victoria, it decided to maintain the ban on GM food crops and the Genetically Modified Crops Management Regulations 2008 came into effect in April 2008.
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