Agro-Biotech News

Australia's Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has received license application DIR 218 from All Aussie Avocados Pty Ltd (trading as All Aussie Farmers) for the commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) tomatoes. The GM tomato has been genetically modified for purple fruit color. The GM Purple Tomato will be grown commercially in greenhouses in Australia, subject to restrictions in some Australian States and Territories for marketing or biosecurity reasons. The GM Purple Tomato and its products would enter general commerce, including use in food. This GM Purple Tomato would only become available in Australia if all regulatory requirements are met, including approvals from the Gene Technology Regulator, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).