<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Field Testing</b></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">The canola line GT200 was field tested in Canada (1992-1994). Agronomic characteristics such as vegetative vigor, overwintering capacity, time to maturity, seed production and yield of the transformed line GT200 were compared to unmodified canola counterparts and determined to be within the normal range of expression found in commercial canola cultivars. Stress adaptation was evaluated, including resistance to major <i>B. napus</i> pests such as the fungal pathogen <i>Leptosphaeria maculans</i> (blackleg) and the susceptibility of GT200 was within the ranges currently displayed by commercial varieties. The only significant difference between GT200 canola and the parental non-transformed variety was tolerance to glyphosate. Overall the field data reports demonstrated that canola GT200 had no potential to pose a plant pest risk.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Outcrossing</b></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">Transgenic canola line GT200 displayed normal reproductive characteristics. <i>B. napus</i> plants are known to outcross up to 30% with other plants of the same species, and potentially with plants of related species <i>B. rapa</i>, <i>B. juncea</i>, <i>B. carinata</i>, <i>B. nigra</i>, <i>Diplotaxis muralis</i>, <i>Raphanus raphanistrum</i>, and <i>Erucastrum gallicum</i>. Previous studies have demonstrated that gene flow is most likely to occur with <i>B. rapa</i>.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">The genes coding for glyphosate tolerance, CP4 EPSPS and <i>gox</i> are not expected to confer an ecological advantage to potential hybrid offspring. If glyphosate tolerant individuals arose through interspecific or intergeneric hybridization, the novel trait would confer no competitive advantage to these plants unless these populations were routinely subject to herbicide treatments. This may occur in managed ecosystems where glyphosate herbicide Roundup&reg; was applied for broad spectrum weed control, or when used to control weeds in plant varieties developed for tolerance to Roundup&reg;. In the event that a glyphosate tolerant plant survived, the herbicide-tolerant individual would be easily controlled using mechanical and other available chemical means. It was concluded that gene flow from the transgenic line GT200 to canola relatives was possible, but would not result in increased weediness or invasiveness of these relatives.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Weediness Potential</b></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">No competitive advantage was conferred to GT200 canola, other than that conferred by resistance to glyphosate herbicides. Resistance to glyphosate did not confer any pest resistance, alter reproductive biology or change any physiology related to survival. Volunteer glyphosate tolerant plants would be easily managed using mechanical or alternative herbicides with different modes of action. It was concluded that GT200 canola had no altered weed or invasiveness potential compared to currently commercialized <i>B. napus</i> varieties.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Secondary and Non-Target Adverse Effects</b></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">It was determined that genetically modified canola line GT200 did not have a significant adverse impact on organisms beneficial to plants or agriculture, nontarget organisms, and were not expected to impact on threatened or endangered species. The novel proteins CP4 EPSPS and GOX expressed in GT200 did not result in altered toxicity or allergenicity properties as determined from studies using simulated digestive fluids, nutritional composition and amino acid sequence homology studies.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Impact on Biodiversity</b></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">The transgenic canola line GT200 has no novel phenotypic characteristics that would extend its use beyond the current geographic range of canola/rapeseed production. Since outcross species are only found in agricultural ecosystems, transfer of novel traits would not have an impact on unmanaged environments. It was determined that the relative impact on biodiversity of GT200 was equivalent to that of currently commercialized canola lines.</p>
