Legislation

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National Regulatory Scheme for Genetically Modified Organisms

The nationally consistent legislative scheme for gene technology is comprised of the Commonwealth Gene Technology Act 2000 and Gene Technology Regulations 2001, and corresponding State and Territory legislation.

The legislation was developed in consultation with all Australian jurisdictions and the scheme is supported by the inter-governmental Gene Technology Agreement between the Australian Government and each State and Territory.

The Commonwealth Gene Technology legislation took effect on 21 June 2001 and consists of the following:

• The Gene Technology Act 2000 (current compilation)
• The Gene Technology Regulations 2001 (current compilation)
• The Gene Technology (Consequential Amendments) Act 2000
• The Gene Technology (Licence Charges) Act 2000
  

The Commonwealth legislation incorporates the following amendments:

• Gene Technology Amendment Act 2015 (commencement 11 March 2016)
• Gene Technology Amendment Act 2007 (commencement 1 July 2007)
• The Gene Technology Amendment (2019 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2019 (commencement 8 October 2019, 1 July 2020 and 8 October 2020)
• Gene Technology Amendment Regulations 2011 (commencement 1 September 2011)
• Gene Technology Amendment Regulations 2009 (commencement 2 May 2009)
• Gene Technology Amendment Regulations 2007 (commencement 1 July 2007)
• Gene Technology Amendment Regulations 2006 (commencement 31 March 2007)

More information on the amendments is available on the Previous reviews of gene technology legislation and 2019 Amendment to the Regulations web pages.

Documents produced in the development of the Acts

Explanatory Memorandum to the Gene Technology Bill 2000 (including Regulation Impact Statement)

Explanatory Memorandum to the Gene Technology (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2000

Explanatory Memorandum to the Gene Technology (Licence Charges) Bill 2000

Explanatory Guide to the Commonwealth Gene Technology Bill 2000 (plain English guide to the Gene Technology Bill 2000) (HTML)
Explanatory Guide to the Commonwealth Gene Technology Bill 2000 (plain English guide to the Gene Technology Bill 2000) (PDF 178 KB)

Reviews of the Gene Technology Act 2000 and documents supporting the resulting amendments

2017 review

The Legislative and Governance Forum on Gene Technology (the ministerial committee with responsibility for oversight of the Scheme, also known as the LGFGT) commenced the Third Review of the National Gene Technology Scheme in July 2017.

More information is available on the Department of Health’s Third Review of the National Gene Technology Scheme web page.

2011 review

Final report from the 2011 Review of the Gene Technology Act 2000

All Governments' Response to the recommendations of the 2011 Review of the Gene Technology Act 2000

Explanatory Memorandum for the Gene Technology Amendment Bill 2015

2006 review

Report of the 2006 Statutory Review of the Gene Technology Act 2000 and the Gene Technology Agreement 2001

State, Territory and Australian Governments' Response to the Recommendations of the Statutory Review of the Gene Technology Act 2000 and the Gene Technology Agreement 2001

Explanatory Memorandum for the Gene Technology Amendment Bill 2007

Documents produced in the development of the Regulations and ongoing review

Explanatory Statement for the Gene Technology Amendment Regulations 2019

Explanatory Statement for the Gene Technology Amendment Regulations 2011

Explanatory Statement for the Gene Technology Amendment Regulations 2009

Explanatory Statement for the Gene Technology Amendment Regulations 2006

Explanatory Statement for the Gene Technology Amendment Regulations 2007

Explanatory Statement to the Gene Technology Regulations 2001