Review of the Victorian Gene Technology Act 2001

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Introduction

The Gene Technology Ministerial Council is a council of Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers with responsibility for gene technology. The Ministerial Council oversees a national regulatory system for genetically modified organisms which is administered by the Gene Technology Regulator.

The Ministerial Council has caused an independent review of the operations of Commonwealth Gene Technology Act 2000 and the structure of the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator and a report was received by the Ministerial Council and tabled in the Commonwealth Parliament on 27 April 2006. That report is available on the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator web site.

The Victorian Gene Technology Act 2001 (the Act) has been reviewed independently. The terms of reference for the independent review and background information on the gene technology regulatory system are contained in the attached consultation paper. The review of the Victorian Gene Technology Act 2001 was undertaken with due consideration of the review of the Commonwealth Gene Technology Act 2000.

The Minister for Health, Hon Bronwyn Pike, appointed three independent panel members to review the Act:

• Professor Bob Williamson (Chair),
• Professor Peter Sallmann and
• Dr Diane Sisely.

The Panel took submissions from interested parties on the regulation of gene technology in Victoria.

The deadline for submissions was COB 23 June 2006.