unauthorised dealings with commercial human food or Wheat is one of a number of animal feed supplies. CSIRO GM plants of any kind. GM crops that have been researchers are developing approved for experimental Since 2005, the Regulator has wheat and wheat products that field planting in Australia. issued 21 licences for might improve nutritional There have been trials of early-stage research trials properties such as glycaemic GM wheat that sought to of GM wheat. To date, seven of index. The Regulator has improve salt tolerance, these field trial licences are still authorised CSIRO to conduct drought resistance, disease current. For further details, see trials involving feeding foods resistance, yield, grain the table on the next page. containing GM wheat to quality and nutrient use Each field trial is limited in its animals and people under size (0.4–3.0 hectares per year) efficiency. some licences. These studies and duration (up to 5.5 years, are also subject to approval by GM wheat is not grown that is, six seasons). The trials ethics committees who commercially in Australia, are subject to strict containment consider animal and human and is not licenced for conditions to manage the ethical issues. commercial release. potential for spread and Some of these trials are The Gene Technology persistence of the GM wheat ongoing, while some have Regulator (the Regulator) and its introduced genes into concluded. For full details on carries out science-based the wider environment. each trial visit the . risk analysis before The OGTR actively inspects approving field trials of GM trials to make sure they are wheat. compliant with licence Any work with GM wheat in conditions. There have been no Australia must be licenced breaches of containment with any of these field trials. by the Regulator. Criminal charges can apply for GM wheat from these trials is not permitted to enter Current licences for limited and controlled releases (field trials) of GM wheat Licence No Licence holder Modified Trait Issued CSIRO Disease resistance July 2018
Wheat is one of a number of GM crops that have been approved for experimental field planting in Australia. There have been trials of GM wheat that sought to improve salt tolerance, drought resistance, disease resistance, yield, grain quality and nutrient use efficiency. GM wheat is not grown commercially in Australia, and is not licenced for commercial release. The Gene Technology Regulator (the Regulator) carries out science-based risk analysis before approving field trials of GM wheat. Any work with GM wheat in Australia must be licenced by the Regulator. Criminal charges can apply for unauthorised dealings with GM plants of any kind. Since 2005, the Regulator has issued 21 licences for early-stage research trials of GM wheat. To date, seven of these field trial licences are still current. For further details, see the table on the next page. Each field trial is limited in its size (0.4–3.0 hectares per year) and duration (up to 5.5 years, that is, six seasons). The trials are subject to strict containment conditions to manage the potential for spread and persistence of the GM wheat and its introduced genes into the wider environment. The OGTR actively inspects trials to make sure they are compliant with licence conditions. There have been no breaches of containment with any of these field trials. GM wheat from these trials is not permitted to enter commercial human food or animal feed supplies. CSIRO researchers are developing wheat and wheat products that might improve nutritional properties such as glycaemic index. The Regulator has authorised CSIRO to conduct trials involving feeding foods containing GM wheat to animals and people under some licences. These studies are also subject to approval by ethics committees who consider animal and human ethical issues. Some of these trials are ongoing, while some have concluded. For full details on each trial visit the . Current licences for limited and controlled releases (field trials) of GM wheat Licence No Licence holder Modified Trait Issued CSIRO Disease resistance July 2018
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