Dear Sir:
Everyone can have a say until February 2018, on the Gene Technology Regulator’s (OGTR) plan to deregulate many new genetic manipulation (GM) techniques. They have not yet been given the all clear, as some GM proponents claim.
The Gene Technology Act 2000 defines gene technology as “any technique for the modification of genes or other genetic material” so all GM techniques and their products should to be regulated. But the law also allows some exemptions to be made under the Gene Technology Regulations.
The OGTR proposes to deregulate new GM CRISPR, RNA interference and other techniques, by amending the Regulations. New GM trees, animals, microbes, crop plants, fish, humans etc. could all be exempt. Their products would not be labelled.
New GM organisms could be released into our environments and food without any public knowledge, though they were only invented in the past five years and have never been released before.
The precautionary principle should apply. Until there is a substantial history of safe use and the evidence of harmful off-target impacts is resolved, all new GM GM techniques should be regulated.
Better safe than sorry.
Yours sincerely,
Bob Phelps
Executive Director
Gene Ethics
OGTR review of the rules on new gmos
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/internet/ogtr/publishing.nsf/Content/reviewregulations-1
Tell the Health Minister to take back control of new GM techniques!
https://friendsoftheearthmelbourne.good.do/stopthegovernmentshreddingtherulesongmos/rein_in_the_regulator/
Forums on Review of the national Gene Tech Scheme are in Sydney and Adelaide this week and other capital cities later. Register and information here:
https://consultations.health.gov.au/best-practice-regulation/a1506a1c/consultation/intro/
Bob Phelps Executive Director Gene Ethics
