Gene Technology

Gene Technology Ministerial Council (GTMC) - Joint Communique - 31 August 2007

State, Territory and Australian Government representatives responsible for gene technology met in Melbourne for a meeting of the Gene Technology Ministerial Council (GTMC).

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The 7th meeting of the Gene Technology Ministerial Council (GTMC) was held in Melbourne today. The meeting was chaired by the Hon Ian Macdonald, NSW State Minister for Primary Industries, Energy, Mineral Resources and State Development.

The main items of business were progress reports from the jurisdictions on amending their respective legislation to correspond with the amended Gene Technology Act 2000 to ensure the scheme is nationally consistent and on their reviews of the moratoria on growing genetically modified crops.

All states and territories, except Queensland and the Northern Territory, have moratoria on growing genetically modified crops based on marketing grounds. Most state moratoria are due to expire in 2008 and the Tasmanian moratorium has an expiry date of late 2009. New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania are currently reviewing the moratoria legislation.

Following the meeting, the State, Territory and Australian Government Ministers responsible for overseeing the regulatory system for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) were joined by members of the Primary Industries Ministerial Council to participate in an information session and panel discussion on GMOs.


Media contact: Kay McNiece, 0412 132 585