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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 GM canola 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 considered for GM canola included weediness, gene transfer, toxicity and allergenicity and herbicide resistance.
Following more than 12 months of extensive evaluation and public consultation, the Regulator concluded that the two genetically modified canola types 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. The Regulator’s full determination on the Bayer licence can be found on the OGTR website.
Monsanto’s Roundup Ready® genetically modified 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 the OGTR approval for cultivation, the use of foods derived from the GM canola types 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 report for Monsanto’s 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® GM canola and Liberty to be used on the InVigor® GM 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.”
Since the Federal commercial approvals for the GM canola types, State and Territory Governments have examined the introduction of GM canola and other GM crops, based on marketing grounds. The following is a summary of each State Government’s current position, in canola growing regions:
- NSW
In 2007, after a review, the NSW Government announced that GM canola could now be grown in the state.
- Victoria
The Victorian Government conducted a review in 2007 and announced that GM canola could go ahead in the 2008 season.
- South Australia
The South Australian Government announced a review of its GM Crop Management Act legislation in 2007. Unlike the governments of NSW and Victoria, it decided to maintain a ban on the cultivation of GM food crops and the Genetically Modified Crops Management Regulations 2008 came into effect in April 2008.
- Western Australia
In November 2008 the newly elected Western Australian Minister for Agriculture and Food, granted an exemption under the Genetically Modified Crops Free Areas Act 2003 for the commercial cultivation of GM cotton in the Ord River Irrigation Areas. Another exemption was granted in December 2008 for small scale commercial GM canola trials in the State.
- Tasmania
In 2008, a Joint Select Committee released a report, and following this, the Tasmanian Government announced that all GM crops would be banned from cultivation in the State. The Tasmanian Government’s policy extends to 2014.
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