Better health and ageing for all Australians

1999-2000

Biotechnology: Mapping out our future

Biotechnology is emerging as one of the most important technological revolutions of the modern age and developments are proceeding rapidly.

In this section:

Fact Sheet 5

Biotechnology: Mapping out our future

Biotechnology is emerging as one of the most important technological revolutions of the modern age and developments are proceeding rapidly.

For consumers of health services there is potential for considerable gains through the development of new treatments and disease prevention measures.

The Government is determined to ensure that arrangements are in place to capture maximum benefits for Australia, while protecting the community and the environment from any risks.

To help achieve this, the Government will develop an integrated strategy for development and advances in biotechnology. This initiative is supported in this portfolio by funding of around $7.6 million over two years, with full cost recovery to be achieved by 2002.

The integrated biotechnology strategy will include:

  • an enforceable regulation system;
  • a public awareness and information program; and
  • measures to better manage our intellectual property and help develop commercial applications from our research findings.
Taken together, the strategy components will help ensure industry and the community benefit to the fullest possible extent, address public concerns about safety and ensure there is no threat to human health or the environment.

The present voluntary system for assessing gene technology will be replaced by a consistent national system with a statutory office in the Health portfolio responsible for:

  • coordinating existing approval mechanisms; and
  • approving gene technology applications not covered by existing systems.
The new system will operate in close collaboration with and complement existing systems for regulating food, agricultural and veterinary chemicals, industrial chemicals and therapeutic goods.

New legislation, to be administered by a statutory Gene Technology Office in the Health and Aged Care portfolio, will be developed to cover gaps in the coverage of existing regulatory authorities.

An interim Gene Technology Office will be established to:

  • begin drafting legislation and detailed operating procedures; and
  • undertake the necessary consultation with industry and the general public as part of the establishment of a new regulatory system.
The Minister for Health and Aged Care will be responsible for continuing negotiations with the States and Territories, with the objective of securing their support and active involvement in establishing and operating the regulatory system.

Regulation will be complemented by a public awareness and information program. This will be coordinated by the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) to enable the community to understand the applications of biotechnology and to appreciate the opportunities, as well as the potential risks, and the ways in which they are handled.

The proposed new arrangements will provide industry with an appropriate pathway to bring to the market new products discovered and/or developed in Australia.

Importantly, the new arrangements will also provide robust mechanisms to protect health and environmental interests. The strategy is reinforced by the Government's commitment to boosting Australia's capability in genomics research by enhancing the capacity of the Australian Genome Research Facility and further promoting health-related biotechnology research.

This will be a major focus of the research funding boost to the National Health and Medical Research Council outlined in fact sheet 1.

Contact: Terry Slater, First Assistant Secretary, Therapeutic Goods Administration, (02) 6232 8200
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