Biotechnology position

AusBiotech supports the development of agricultural biotechnology assessed on a case-by-case basis by federal regulatory agencies such as the Office of Gene Technology Regulator, Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ), Australian Pesticides & Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). AusBiotech commends the role and work of these regulators who continues to provide a transparent and consistent federal gene technology regulatory system – which is science-based, and communicates with key stakeholders to ensure the Australian community is aware of its existence and role in maintaining human health and environmental safety of agricultural biotechnology.

AusBiotech believes all agricultural production systems should have an equal opportunity to contribute to the Australian food production system under free market conditions. Preference for one production system over another should not be the result of state government legislation that isn’t in harmony with the Inter-Governmental Agreement underpinning the Gene Technology Act 2000 that attempts to facilitate a nationally-consistent scheme for regulating agricultural biotechnology.