Gene Technology

Gene Technology Standing Committee

The Gene Technology Standing Committee provides high level support to the Gene Technology Ministerial Council.

• Composition
• Responsibilities
• Terms of reference
• Contact details

Composition

Membership of the Gene Technology Standing Committee (Standing Committee) reflects the membership of the Gene Technology Ministerial Council (Ministerial Council) and consists of one member from each jurisdiction, a senior official, who shall provide that jurisdiction's views as a whole on the matters considered by the Standing Committee. The Gene Technology Regulator is not a member of the Standing Committee, but attends as a participant.

Responsibilities

The Gene Technology Standing Committee provides high level support to the Gene Technology Ministerial Council established by the intergovernmental Gene Technology Agreement 2001. The Standing Committee is responsible for co-ordinating policy advice to the Ministerial Council and promoting a consultative national approach to gene technology (as defined in the Gene Technology Act 2000) policy development and implementation. It also supports the Ministerial Council in developing and issuing policy principles, policy guidelines and codes of practice as defined in the Act.

Gene Technology Standing Committee Terms of Reference

The terms of reference of the Standing Committee are:

1. To provide policy advice to Ministers who are members of the Ministerial Council on matters relating to gene technology which are within the scope of the national co-operative regulatory scheme for gene technology;
2. To support the Ministerial Council in developing and issuing:
   • policy principles
• policy guidelines; and
• codes of practice as defined in the Act;
3. To provide effective support to the Ministerial Council and facilitate implementation of its decisions;
4. To support the Ministerial Council in ensuring co-ordination between all jurisdictions on matters relating to gene technology which are within the scope of the national co-operative regulatory scheme for gene technology;
5. To promote a consultative and cooperative national approach to gene technology (as defined in the Act) policy development and implementation;
6. To consider matters referred by the Ministerial Council, the Regulator/Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) or the States/Territories;
7. To support the Ministerial Council in fulfilling its functions;
8. To provide advice to the Ministerial Council regarding the development by the Regulator under the national scheme of:
   • regulations;
• technical or procedural guidelines; and
• codes of practice; and
9. To consider matters referred by the Regulator in relation to applications received by the Regulator under the national scheme for licences to deal with GMOs.

The Standing Committee may establish subsidiary groups such as sub-committees and working groups as required to fulfil these functions.

Secretariat contact details

Postal address:

Gene Technology Standing Committee Secretariat
Department of Health and Ageing
Regulatory Policy & Governance Division
GPO Box 9848
MDP 138
Canberra ACT 2601

Phone: (02) 6289 4213
Fax: (02) 6289 8060
Email: gtmc.secretariat@health.gov.au