The Gene Technology Regulator (the Regulator) conducted a technical review of the Gene Technology Regulations 2001 (the Technical Review) to clarify the regulatory status of organisms developed using a range of new technologies and ensure that the new technologies are regulated in a manner commensurate with the risks they pose.



2019 Amendments to the Gene Technology Regulations 2001

8 October 2019: the majority of amendments

1 July 2020: minor administrative amendments to Notifiable Low Risk Dealing assessment and reporting requirements

8 October 2020: repeal of an item on the list of organisms that are not GMOs (Schedule 1 item 1).

Additional information to assist regulated organisations in implementing the amendments is available on the

2019 Amendments to the Regulations page

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Next steps

Review of the National Gene Technology Scheme

The

Amendment Proposals Consultation

Discussion Paper Consultation





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Content within this section

After extensive consultation, the Technical Review concluded with the Legislative and Governance Forum on Gene Technology (the Forum) approving amendments to the Gene Technology Regulations 2001 ( Forum announcement available on their website ). The Decision Regulation Impact Statement prepared by the Regulator to support the Forum’s consideration of the proposed amendments is linked below and is also available on the Office of Best Practice Regulation website. The Governor-General made the Gene Technology Amendment (2019 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2019, which commenced from 8 October 2019. The amendments and an Explanatory Statement are available on the Federal Register of Legislation. The amendments are substantially the same as those put forward for public consultation on 30 November 2017, with minor changes to clarify the drafting and address a possible loophole, ensuring oversight of organisms intended to be regulated as GMOs.The amendments commence in three stages:OGTR continues to monitor scientific developments and you can contact OGTR at any time if you would like to identify an issue for consideration in the next review. The Regulator undertakes periodic reviews of the Regulations and a commencement date for the next review has not been set.If you have questions about the status of new technologies beyond those addressed in the 2019 amendments, please see the Regulator’s general advice on regulatory coverage of new technologies The Scheme Review is a broad-reaching policy review being undertaken for the Legislative and Governance Forum on Gene Technology, independently of the Regulator. The Technical Review is intended to provide an interim solution whilst broader policy considerations associated with new technologies are being progressed through implementation of Scheme Review recommendations.Final Report is available on the Scheme Review website From 30 November 2017 to 21 February 2018 the Regulator invited submissions on proposed amendments to the Regulations for the Technical Review of the Regulations. The Regulator considered the issues raised in submissions in finalising the draft amendments.The amendments as proposed at consultation and the supporting Consultation Regulation Impact Statement are available on the Regulations Review Proposed Amendments page . Submissions received by the Regulator are available on the Regulations Review Amendment Proposals Submissions page The Regulator consulted the public on a discussion paper detailing four options for how new technologies could be regulated, seeking submissions on the paper from 17 October to 16 December 2016. The Regulator considered the information provided in submissions to prepare draft amendment proposals for further consultation.The discussion paper is available on the Regulations Review Discussion Paper page and the submissions received by the Regulator and a summary of submissions are available on the Regulations Review Discussion Paper Submissions page