Australia seen growing first GM canola in 2003
Date: 12-Nov-02
Country: AUSTRALIA
The Commonwealth Gene Technology Regulator said late on Friday that it had decided to "stop the clock" on two applications for the commercial release of GM canola until more information became available.
Public consultation on the risk assessment and risk management plans for applications from Monsanto and Germany's Bayer AG , which earlier this year bought Aventis SA's crop science unit, were originally scheduled for mid-November 2002.
The consultation would now be delayed until early next year, Gene Technology Regulator Sue Meek said. Final decisions on whether licences would be issued for commercial production, currently due in February/March 2003, would also be delayed.
"They are likely to have the approval completed by April, which is still OK for the planting season," a spokesman for Monsanto told Reuters.
It was still planned to go ahead with Australia's first commercial GM canola crop in 2003, he said.
Canola, used to produce cooking and edible oils, would be Australia's second major commercial GM crop after cotton, but its first major GM food crop.