DIR 099 - Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan

Risk Assessment and

Risk Management Plan for

DIR 099

Limited and controlled release of wheat and barley genetically modified for altered grain composition or nutrient utilisation efficiency

Applicant: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

June 2010

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DIR 099 – Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (June 2010) Office of the Gene Technology Regulator

Executive Summary

Introduction

The Gene Technology Regulator (the Regulator) has made a decision to issue a licence in respect of licence application (DIR099) from Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). The licence authorises dealings involving the limited and controlled release of up to 11 lines[2] of genetically modified (GM) wheat and 3 lines of GM barley into the environment.

The Gene Technology Act 2000 (the Act), the Gene Technology Regulations 2001 and corresponding state and territory law govern the comprehensive and highly consultative process undertaken by the Regulator before making a decision whether or not to issue a licence to deal with a genetically modified organism (GMO). The decision is based upon a Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) prepared by the Regulator in accordance with requirements of the legislation. RARMPs apply the Risk Analysis Framework and are finalised following consultation with a wide range of experts, agencies and authorities, and the public[3].

The application

CSIRO has applied for a licence for dealings involving the intentional release of up to 11 lines of GM wheat and 3 lines of GM barley on a limited scale and under controlled conditions. Four of the GM wheat lines have been genetically modified for altered grain composition. The remaining GM wheat lines and the 3 GM barley lines have been genetically modified for enhanced nutrient utilisation efficiency. The trial will take place at two sites, one in the shire of Narrabri (NSW) and the other in the shire of Corrigin (WA), on a maximum area of 2 ha per year, between June 2010 and June2013.

Four of the GM wheat lines contain a gene fragment designed to decrease expression of a gene involved in determining grain qualities important for dough making and human nutrition. Decreased expression of the targeted gene results in alterations to the starch composition of the grain. Seven of the GM wheat lines and the three GM barley lines contain a gene from barley that encodes an enzyme involved in nitrogen utilisation. Expression of this gene is expected to result in an increase in plant biomass and yield. All of the GM wheat and barley lines contain a selectable marker gene.

The purpose of the trial is to assess the growth and yield characteristics of the GM plants when grown under field conditions. The applicant also intends to generate sufficient grain to assess any changes in grain composition for the GM plants relative to non-GM plants and how this may affect dough characteristics and end-product quality. The GM wheat and barley would not be used for human food or animal feed.

CSIRO proposed a number of controls to restrict the spread and persistence of the GM wheat and barley lines and the introduced genetic materials in the environment. These controls were considered during the evaluation of the application.

Confidential Commercial Information

Some details, including the name and sequence of the genes and some regulatory sequences, the identity of vectors, specific phenotypes, and some testing methods have been declared Confidential Commercial Information (CCI) under section 185 of the Act. The confidential information was made available to the prescribed experts and agencies that were consulted on the RARMP for this application.

Risk assessment

The risk assessment took into account information in the application (including proposed containment measures), previous approvals, relevant scientific/technical knowledge and advice relating to risks to human health and safety and the environment provided in submissions received during consultation on the RARMP. No new risks to people or the environment were identified from the advice received on the consultation RARMP.

Initially, potential pathways that might lead to harm to people or the environment as a result of gene technology are postulated (risk scenarios), and these scenarios are evaluated to identify those that warrant detailed characterisation. This process is described as risk identification.

Eight risk scenarios were postulated, including consideration of whether or not expression of the introduced genes could: result in products that are toxic or allergenic to people or other organisms; alter characteristics that may impact on the spread and persistence of the GM wheat and barley; or produce unintended changes in the biochemistry of the GMO. The opportunity for gene flow to other organisms, and its effects if it were to occur, was also assessed.

A risk is only identified for further assessment when a risk scenario is considered to have some chance of causing harm. Pathways that do not lead to an adverse outcome, or could not reasonably occur, do not advance in the risk assessment process.

The characterisation of the eight risk scenarios in relation to both the seriousness and likelihood of harm, in the context of the control measures proposed by the applicant, did not give rise to any identified risks that required further assessment.

Risks to the health and safety of people, or the environment, from the proposed release of the GM wheat and barley into the environment are assessed to be negligible. Hence, the Regulator considers that the dealings involved in this limited and controlled release do not pose a significant risk to either people or the environment.

Risk management plan

Risk management is used to protect the health and safety of people and to protect the environment by controlling or mitigating risk. The risk management plan evaluates and treats identified risks, evaluates controls and limits proposed by the applicant, and considers general risk management measures. The risk management plan is given effect through the licence conditions.

As none of the eight risk scenarios characterised in the risk assessment give rise to an identified risk that requires further assessment, the level of risk from the proposed dealings is assessed to be negligible. The Regulator's Risk Analysis Framework defines negligible risks as insubstantial, with no present need to invoke actions for their mitigation in the risk management plan. However, conditions are imposed to restrict the spread and persistence of the GMOs and their genetic material in the environment and to limit the proposed release to the size and locations requested by the applicant, as these were important considerations in establishing the context for assessing the risks.

The licence conditions require CSIRO to limit the release to a total area of 2 ha per year at two sites from the date of issue of the licence until June 2013. The control measures include containment provisions at the trial site, preventing the use of GM plant materials in human food or animal feed; destroying GM plant materials not required for further studies; transporting GM plant materials in accordance with the Regulator’s transportation guidelines; and conducting post-harvest monitoring at the trial site to ensure all GMOs are destroyed.

Conclusions of the RARMP

The risk assessment concluded that this proposed limited and controlled release of up to 11 GM wheat lines and 3 GM barley lines on a maximum total area of 2 ha per year over three growing seasons in the shire of Narrabri (NSW) and the shire of Corrigin (WA), poses negligible risks to the health and safety of people or the environment as a result of gene technology.

The risk management plan concluded that these negligible risks do not require specific risk treatment measures. However, licence conditions have been imposed to limit the release to the size, locations and duration proposed by the applicant, and to require controls in line with those proposed by the applicant, as these were important considerations in establishing the context for assessing the risks.

Executive Summary III

DIR 099 – Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (June 2010) Office of the Gene Technology Regulator

Executive Summary I

Introduction I

The application I

Confidential Commercial Information II

Risk assessment II

Risk management plan II

Conclusions of the RARMP III

Table of Contents IV

Abbreviations VI

Technical Summary 1

Introduction 1

The application 1

Confidential Commercial Information 2

Risk assessment 2

Risk management plan 3

Licence conditions 3

Other regulatory considerations 4

Identification of issues to be addressed for future releases 4

Suitability of the applicant 5

Conclusions of the RARMP 5

Chapter1 Risk assessment context 7

Section1 Background 7

Section2 The legislative requirements 7

Section3 The proposed dealings 8

3.1 The proposed activities 9

3.2 The proposed limits of the dealings (size, locations and duration) 9

3.3 The proposed controls to restrict the spread and persistence of the GMOs and their genetic material in the environment 9

Section4 The parent organism 10

Section5 The GMOs, nature and effect of the genetic modification 10

5.1 Introduction to the GMOs 10

5.2 The introduced genetic material and their associated effects 12

5.3 The regulatory sequences 15

5.4 Method of genetic modification 16

5.5 Characterisation of the GMOs 17

Section6 The receiving environment 19

6.1 Relevant abiotic factors 19

6.2 Relevant biotic factors 20

6.3 Relevant agricultural practices 20

6.4 Presence of related plants in the receiving environment 21

6.5 Presence of the introduced genetic material or similar genetic material and encoded proteins and/or end products in the environment 22

Section7 Australian and international approvals 22

7.1 Australian approvals of GM wheat and barley 22

7.2 International approvals of GM wheat and barley 23

Chapter2 Risk assessment 24

Section1 Introduction 24

Section2 Risk identification 25

2.1 Production of a substance toxic/allergenic to people or toxic to other organisms 27

2.2 Spread and persistence of the GM wheat and/or barley plants in the environment 29

2.3 Vertical transfer of genes or genetic elements to sexually compatible plants 33

2.4 Horizontal transfer of genes or genetic elements to sexually incompatible organisms 36

2.5 Unintended changes in biochemistry, physiology or ecology 38

2.6 Unauthorised activities 40

Section3 Risk estimate process and assessment of significant risk 40

Section4 Uncertainty 41

Chapter3 Risk management plan 42

Section1 Background 42

Section2 Responsibilities of other Australian regulators 42

Section3 Risk treatment measures for identified risks 43

Section4 General risk management 43

4.1 Licence conditions 43

4.2 Other risk management considerations 49

Section5 Issues to be addressed for future releases 50

Section6 Conclusions of the RARMP 51

References 52

Appendix A Summary of issues raised in submissions received from prescribed experts, agencies and authorities on the consultation RARMP for DIR099 59

Appendix B Summary of issues raised in submissions received from the public on the consultation RARMP for DIR099 61

Table of Contents V

DIR 099 – Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (June 2010) Office of the Gene Technology Regulator

Abbreviations

the Act / Gene Technology Act 2000
APVMA / Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority
AQIS / Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
CCI / Confidential Commercial Information as declared under section 185 of the Gene Technology Act 2000
CaMV / Cauliflower mosaic virus
CSIRO / Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation
DIR / Dealings involving Intentional Release
DNA / Deoxyribonucleic Acid
FSANZ / Food Standards Australia New Zealand
GM / Genetically Modified
GMO / Genetically Modified Organism
GTTAC / Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee
ha / Hectare
HGT / Horizontal gene transfer
HPT / Hygromycin phosphotransferase
km / kilometre
m / metre
mm / millimetre
mRNA / Messenger Ribonucleic Acid
NPT / Neomycin phosphotransferase
NUE / Nitrogen Use Efficiency
OECD / Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
OGTR / Office of the Gene Technology Regulator
PCR / Polymerase Chain Reaction
RARMP / Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan
the Regulations / Gene Technology Regulations 2001
the Regulator / Gene Technology Regulator
RNA / Ribonucleic Acid
TGA / Therapeutic Goods Administration

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Abbreviations VII

DIR 099 – Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (June 2010) Office of the Gene Technology Regulator

Technical Summary

Introduction

The Gene Technology Regulator (the Regulator) has made a decision to issue a licence in respect of application (DIR099) from Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). The licence authorises dealings involving the limited and controlled release of up to 11 lines[4] of genetically modified (GM) wheat and 3 lines of GM barley into the environment.

The application

Four of the GM wheat lines contain an introduced synthetic gene designed to reduce or silence the expression of a specific wheat gene by a mechanism known as RNA interference (RNAi). The gene introduced is under the control of an endosperm-specific promoter and targets Starch Metabolic Enzyme B (SMEB) gene which, when silenced, alters the composition of grain starch.

Seven of the GM wheat lines and all of the GM barley lines contain the Me1 gene which encodes a metabolic enzyme. This gene is naturally present in non-GM barley plants and its expression is expected to enhance the efficiency of nitrogen utilisation. Expression of the introduced Me1 gene is under the control of a tissue specific promoter derived from rice. The Me1 gene has previously been overexpressed in canola and rice and resulted in a phenotype of increased plant biomass and increased yield. A similar effect is expected for overexpression of Me1 in wheat and barley.