The Third Review (the Review) of the National Gene Technology Scheme (Scheme), endorsed by all Australian governments on 11 October 2018, recommended “clarifying, and where necessary strengthening, the mechanisms for regulating the environmental release of GM gene drive organisms in Australia” (Recommendation 7b).
On 13 April 2023, the Gene Technology Ministers’ Meeting (the GTMM) met to discuss the achievements and progress implementing the recommendations of the Review. The key GTMM priorities until 2025 were endorsed at this meeting, and included the progress of the national Gene Drive Policy Guide. The communique [1] from this meeting is available on the Scheme website.
The term ‘gene drive’ is used to describe organisms which have been genetically modified to increase the rate for a particular trait to spread through a sexually reproducing population, spreading the genes or traits through a species at a faster rate than normal inheritance. A suite of educational material on gene drive is available on the National Gene Technology Scheme website [2], see links to specific resources below:
National Gene Drive Policy Guide and public consultation
The public consultation on a draft National Gene Drive Policy Guide [6] closed on 3 March 2024.
A national Gene Drive Policy Guide has been developed following significant consultation over the past 3 years with government, researchers, and the regulated industry. The Policy Guide aims to provide necessary information to potential users of gene drive technology, and to assist with understanding of obligations and additional considerations before submitting any application for environmental release.
Please refer to the Commonwealth announcement [7] of the consultation on the draft National Gene Drive Policy Guide on the Scheme website.
All interested Western Australia stakeholders were encouraged to provide their views on the Policy Guide via online submission through the Consultation Hub [8].
Information sessions on National Gene Drive Policy Guide
The Commonwealth team presented 2 information sessions on the draft National Gene Drive Policy Guide. The information sessions were held via video conference on 5 February 2024 and 13 February 2024.