About the GMO tables

The following tables provide a summary of GMOs released into the environment.

GMOs can be released for a limited time under specified conditions (limited and controlled release) or without a time limit on their release (“Commercial release”). Some restrictions on commercial releases may still apply.

All releases are assigned a licence number and referred to as “DIR” which is short for “Dealings involving intentional release” into the environment. “Dealing” with GMO includes many activities such as conduct experiments, make, develop, produce, transport and dispose.

In addition to licences, there is also a “GMO Register”. The Regulator can decide that certain dealings previously authorised by a licence may be included in the GMO Register. Dealings on the GMO register no longer require a licence, they can be conducted by anyone.

Table of applications and authorisations for Dealings involving Intentional Release (DIR) into the environment
Table of applications and authorisations for commercial releases of GM plants (subset of list of licences involving Intentional Release)
Table of authorisations for commercial therapeutic GMOs (subset of list of licences involving Intentional Release)
Table of Intentional Release licence applications under evaluation

48 entries found

Table of applications and authorisations for Dealings involving Intentional Release (DIR) into the environment
Licence No Organisation Title of Project Parent Organism Modified Trait Issue Date Licence Status
DIR 180AstraZeneca Pty LtdCommercial supply of a genetically modified COVID-19 vaccineAdenovirusVaccine - altered antigen expression; Vaccine – replication incompetent08 Feb 2021Current
DIR 177Novotech (Australia) Pty LimitedClinical trial of genetically modified human adenovirus for bladder cancer treatmentHuman adenovirusHuman therapeutic - attenuation 01 Feb 2021Current
DIR 176PTM Solutions Australia Pty Ltd Limited and controlled release of white clover genetically modified for increased condensed tanninsWhite clover (Trifolium repens L.)Altered condensed tannin concentration, Selectable marker – antibiotic31 Mar 2021Current
DIR 174Biocelect Pty LtdCommercial supply of a genetically modified cholera vaccine, Vaxchora®Cholera bacterium (Vibrio cholerae)Vaccine – attenuation, Selectable marker – other17 Feb 2021Current
DIR 173Monsanto Australia Pty LtdCommercial release of cotton genetically modified for herbicide tolerance (MON 88701)Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)Herbicide tolerance 15 Oct 2020Current
DIR 171Novotech (Australia) Pty LtdClinical trial of genetically modified influenza vaccine (H3N2 M2SR)Influenza virusVaccine - altered antigen expression; Vaccine – pathogenicity attenuation, replication incompetent 10 Jun 2020Current
DIR 170The University of QueenslandTrial of genetically modified vaccines against Ross River virus infection in horsesVaccinia virusVaccine - altered antigen expression; Vaccine - pathogenicity attenuation; Reporter gene expression23 Jan 2020Current
DIR 169The University of QueenslandLimited and controlled release of microalgae genetically modified for increased production of fatty acidsMicroalgae (Nannochloropsis oceanica Suda & MiyashitaAltered fatty acid composition; Inability to use nitrate as a nitrogen source (nutrient use)16 Jan 2020Current
DIR 166Queensland University of Technology Limited and controlled release of chickpea genetically modified for drought and other environmental stress toleranceChickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)Environmental stress tolerance – drought; Selectable marker – antibiotic28 May 2019Current
DIR 165The University of MelbourneLimited and controlled release of wheat genetically modified for altered iron uptake, transport and bioavailabilityWheat (Triticum aestivum L.)Composition – food (human nutrition), Selectable marker – antibiotic, Selectable marker – herbicide 17 Apr 2019Current
DIR 164Monsanto Australia LimitedLimited and controlled release of canola genetically modified for herbicide toleranceCanola (Brassica napus L.)Herbicide tolerance21 Nov 2018Current
DIR 163Nuseed Pty LtdLimited and controlled release of canola genetically modified for altered oil content and herbicide toleranceCanola (Brassica napus L.)Composition - food (human nutrition), Composition - animal nutrition, Selectable marker - herbicide, Selectable marker - antibiotic, Herbicide tolerance06 Sep 2018Current
DIR 162CSIROLimited and controlled release of bread wheat and durum wheat genetically modified for enhanced rust disease resistanceBread wheat (Triticum aestivum) and durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum)Disease resistance, Selectable markers11 Jul 2018Current
DIR 161Novotech (Australia) Pty LtdA genetically modified respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for use in clinical trialsRespiratory syncytial virusHuman therapeutic - attenuation16 Jul 2018Current
DIR 160Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and ResourcesLimited and controlled release of perennial ryegrass genetically modified for fructan biosynthesisPerennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)Composition – animal nutrition, Yield, Selectable marker – antibiotic resistance06 Mar 2018Current
DIR 159The University of QueenslandLimited and controlled release of genetically modified insect-specific viruses as vaccines against Kunjin virus infection in farmed crocodilesInsect-specific flavivirusesVaccine – altered antigen expression09 May 2018Current
DIR 158Go Resources Pty LtdCommercial release of safflower genetically modified for high oleic acid compositionSafflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)Composition – non-food (processing), Selectable marker – antibiotic27 Jun 2018Current
DIR 157Syngenta Australia Pty LtdCommercial release of cotton genetically modified for insect resistance (COT102)Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)Insect resistance 14 Feb 2018Current
DIR 156Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology UniversityLimited and controlled release of buffalo grass genetically modified for herbicide tolerance and dwarf phenotypeBuffalo grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walter) Kuntze)Herbicide tolerance, Plant development-altered plant architecture11 Apr 2018Current
DIR 155Nuseed Pty LtdCommercial release of canola genetically modified for omega-3 oil content (DHA canola)Canola (Brassica napus L.)Composition - food (human nutrition), Composition - animal nutrition, Selectable marker - herbicide13 Feb 2018Current
DIR 154Bioproperties Pty LtdLimited and controlled release of a GM vaccine for chickens, Vaxsafe® ILTInfectious laryngotracheitis virus (Gallid herpesvirus 1). Vaccine - attenuation01 Aug 2017Current
DIR 153University of QueenslandLimited and controlled release of sorghum genetically modified for grain quality traitsSorghum (Sorghum bicolor)Composition - animal nutrition, Yield, Selectable marker - antibiotic25 Jul 2017Current
DIR 152The University of AdelaideLimited and controlled release of wheat and barley genetically modified for abiotic stress tolerance and yield improvementWheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)Abiotic stress tolerance; enhanced yield; selectable marker17 Jul 2017Current
DIR 151CSIROLimited and controlled release of wheat genetically modified for disease resistance, drought tolerance, altered oil content and altered grain compositionWheat (Triticum aestivum L.)Disease resistance, drought tolerance, Composition - food (processing), Composition - food (human nutrition)01 May 2017Current
DIR 149Nuseed Pty LtdLimited and controlled release of Indian mustard (Juncea canola) genetically modified for altered oil content Indian mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. & Coss.) Composition - food (human nutrition), Composition - animal nutrition, Selectable marker14 Feb 2017Current
DIR 148Sanofi-Aventis Australia Pty LtdCommercial supply of Dengvaxia, an attenuated GM dengue vaccine Yellow fever virus (YF17D)Vaccine - altered antigen expression27 Jun 2017Current
DIR 147Monsanto Australia LimitedLimited and controlled release of cotton genetically modified for insect resistance and herbicide toleranceCotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)Insect resistance and herbicide tolerance23 Jan 2017Current
DIR 146Queensland University of TechnologyLimited and controlled release of banana genetically modified for disease resistance Banana (Musa spp.)Disease resistance, Selectable marker – antibiotic13 Dec 2016Current
DIR 145Monsanto Australia LimitedCommercial release of cotton genetically modified for insect resistance and herbicide tolerance (Bollgard® 3 XtendFlex™ and XtendFlex™ cotton)Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)Insect resistance and herbicide tolerance20 Dec 2016Current
DIR 144Novotech (Australia) Pty LtdClinical trial of live attenuated genetically modified influenza vaccines Influenza virusHuman therapeutic - attenuation01 Aug 2016Current
DIR 143BASF Australia Ltd Commercial release of cotton genetically modified for insect resistance and herbicide tolerance (GlyTol® (BCS-GH002-5) and GlyTol TwinLink Plus® (BCS-GH002-5 x BCS-GH004-7 x BCS-GH005-8 x SYN-IR102-7))Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)Insect resistance and herbicide tolerance08 Dec 2016Current
DIR 140Novotech (Australia) Pty LtdClinical trial of a genetically modified virus for treatment of liver, kidney and prostate cancerVaccinia virusHuman therapeutic- attenuation, enhanced immune response. Reporter gene expression.10 Mar 2016Current
DIR 139Pioneer Hi-Bred Australia Pty LtdCommercial release of canola genetically modified for herbicide toleranceCanola (Brassica napus L.)Herbicide tolerance29 Mar 2016Current
DIR 138BASF Australia Ltd Commercial release of canola genetically modified for dual herbicide tolerance and a hybrid breeding system Canola (Brassica napus L.) Herbicide tolerance, Hybrid breeding system 22 Mar 2016Current
DIR 137AstraZeneca Pty LtdCommercial supply of attenuated GM influenza vaccinesInfluenza virusVaccine - attenuation14 Jan 2016Current
DIR 136CSIROLimited and controlled release of cotton genetically modified for enhanced fibre qualityCotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)Product quality – non-food, Selectable marker – antibiotic04 Sep 2015Current
DIR 132Amgen Australia Pty LtdCommercial supply of a tumour-selective genetically modified virus for cancer therapy Herpes simplex virus-1Therapeutic – attenuation, therapeutic – enhanced immune response12 Aug 2015Current
DIR 127Monsanto Australia LtdCommercial release of canola genetically modified for herbicide toleranceCanola (Brassica napus L.)Herbicide tolerance21 Nov 2014Current
DIR 125Zoetis Australia Research & Manufacturing Pty LtdCommercial release of genetically modified vaccine to protect chickens against pathogenic Escherichia coliEscherichia coliVaccine - attenuation18 Dec 2014Current
DIR 124Monsanto Australia LtdCommercial release of GM insect resistant and herbicide tolerant (COT102 x MON-15985 [Bollgard®III] and COT102 x MON-15985 x MON 88913 [Bollgard®III x Roundup Ready Flex®]) cottonCotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)Herbicide tolerance, Insect resistance, Selectable marker - antibiotic, Reporter gene expression19 Jun 2014Current
DIR 118Monsanto Australia LtdCommercial release of herbicide tolerant (Roundup Ready Flex®MON88913) pima cotton in AustraliaCotton (Gossypium barbadense L.)Herbicide tolerance16 Aug 2013Current
DIR 108BASF Australia Ltd Commercial release of canola genetically modified for herbicide tolerance and a hybrid breeding systemCanola (Brassica napus L.)Herbicide tolerance/Hybrid breeding system02 Dec 2011Current
DIR 098Sanofi-Aventis Australia Pty LtdCommercial release of a genetically modified live viral vaccine to protect against Japanese encephalitis (IMOJEV)™Yellow fever virus (YF 17D)Vaccine - attenuation, Vaccine - antigen expression19 Aug 2010Current
DIR 091Corteva Agriscience Australia Pty LtdCommercial release of cotton genetically modified for insect resistance (WideStrike™ Insect Protection Cotton) Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)Insect resistance, Selectable marker - herbicide25 Nov 2009Current
DIR 066/2006Monsanto Australia LtdCommercial release of GM herbicide tolerant and/or insect resistant cotton lines north of latitude 22° SouthCotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)Herbicide tolerance, Insect resistance, Selectable marker - antibiotic, Reporter gene expression26 Oct 2006Current
DIR 062/2005BASF Australia Ltd Commercial release of herbicide tolerant Liberty Link® CottonCotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)Herbicide tolerance08 Aug 2006Current
DIR 021/2002BASF Australia Ltd Commercial release of canola genetically modified for herbicide tolerance and a hybrid breeding system for use in the Australian cropping systemCanola (Brassica napus L.)Herbicide tolerance, Hybrid breeding system25 Jul 2003Current
DIR 020/2002Monsanto Australia LtdGeneral release of Roundup Ready® canola (Brassica napus) in AustraliaCanola (Brassica napus L.)herbicide tolerance19 Dec 2003Current