About the consultation
The Third Review of the National Gene Technology Scheme made 27 recommendations. The review found that overall, the National Gene Technology Scheme is working well. It found that the scheme has operated successfully in assessing and managing the risks posed by genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
The review also identified opportunities to update and modernise the scheme. This would strengthen it and make sure it remains fit for purpose.
We are consulting stakeholders on the proposed amendments to Gene Technology Act 2000. The changes aim to ensure the scheme maintains flexibility to deal with future developments and challenges.
In 2021, the Gene Technology Ministers’ Meeting (GTMM) consulted on the Decision Regulation Impact Statement. Following consideration of the feedback from the consultation, the GTMM agreed to implement the priority recommendations by adopting the preferred risk‑tiering regulatory model.
Key features of the option agreed by the GTMM include:
- reducing the level of prescription in some areas of the primary legislation (the Gene Technology Act 2000) and including higher level rules and principles with a greater focus on outcomes
- enabling some technical issues to be dealt with in delegated legislation; continuing to ensure oversight by the GTMM and the parliament while providing a more flexible mechanism for making timely amendments to respond to changes in technology and changes in risk understanding (within the framework of the Act)
- enabling certain technical and procedural matters to be delegated to the Gene Technology Regulator (within the parameters set by the Act and the Gene Technology Regulations 2001).
Legislative reforms are required to bring the new regulatory model into effect and to update, future proof and modernise the scheme. The changes aim to ensure the scheme reflects current best practice, and is appropriately flexible and risk based in an environment where the science and inherent risks of gene technology is evolving.
The proposed changes to legislation are the first major changes proposed to the gene technology legislation since the scheme’s inception over 20 years ago.
Have your say
Consultation with our stakeholders is important in the development of the proposed amendments to the Act. This consultation provides everyone with an opportunity to consider the proposed amendments to the legislation and how they might impact them.
This consultation is open from 13 September 2024 and closes 8 November 2024.
Submissions are to be lodged through the survey in the consultation hub.
Where possible, reasoning and supporting information should be included. Providing consultation responses via the survey in the consultation hub will ensure that input can be clearly considered against the relevant proposed amendments.
Stakeholders are encouraged to read the:
- Consultation Paper – Draft Gene Technology Amendment Bill
- Exposure Draft of the draft Gene Technology Amendment Bill 2024.
A future law compilation that shows how the Act would read if amended by the draft has also been provided. These documents are available on the consultation hub.
Information webinar
We held an information session on 25 September 2024. Watch the webinar recording.
Get involved
Contact us to subscribe to updates so we can notify you when we launch a new public consultation about gene technology issues and policies.
You can then take part in future consultation processes to make sure we consider your views.