Gene Technology
Second Gene Technology Ministerial Council joint communique
The Gene Technology Ministerial Council held its second annual meeting in Perth.
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Policy principle
Printable version of communique (PDF 10 KB)31 July 2003
The Gene Technology Ministerial Council at its second annual meeting, held today in Perth, agreed to the issuing of a policy principle that would bring greater legislative certainty to States and Territories who wished to designate specific areas for either genetically modified (GM) or non-GM crops, based on marketing considerations. The Northern Territory Government abstained.
The Gene Technology Ministerial Council oversees the national regulatory framework for gene technology in Australia. This is a nationally cooperative scheme involving all States and Territories. The scheme began on 21 June 2001 with the commencement of the Gene Technology Act 2000 and has been characterised by a continuously high level of collaboration throughout its development and implementation.
A key part of the scheme is the provision for policy principles that may be issued by the Ministerial Council to establish parameters for the national regulatory system. They also govern the work of the Gene Technology Regulator.
Ministers agreed today to issue its first Policy Principle which has undergone extensive consultation and assessment.
"This principle will mean that the Gene Technology Regulator will recognise States' rights to designate under State law special areas that are for either GM or non-GM crops for market purposes," the chair of today's meeting, Commonwealth Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Ms Trish Worth, said.
The Ministerial Council on Gene Technology comprises Commonwealth and State and Territory Ministers from a range of portfolios including health, agriculture and the environment.
On the second anniversary of the national gene technology regulatory scheme, Ministers restated their support for the regulatory framework and the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator.
Ministers agreed that, while the gene technology regulatory scheme is scheduled for review in a further two years, the strong regulatory system implemented through nationally consistent legislation was working well, ensuring the protection of public health and safety and the environment.
Media contact: Kay McNiece, Gene Technology Ministerial Council, 0412 132 585
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