South Australia
Gene Technology Regulations 2017
under the Gene Technology Act 2001
Contents
Part 1—Preliminary
1 Short title
3 Definitions
3A Numbering
Part 2—Interpretation and general operation
4 Techniques not constituting gene technology
4A Organisms that are genetically modified organisms
5 Organisms that are not genetically modified organisms
Part 3—Dealings with GMOs
Division 1—Licensing system
6 Dealings exempt from licensing
7 Application for licence—prescribed fee
8 Time limit for deciding an application
9 Prescribed authorities
9A Risks posed by dealings proposed to be authorised by licence
10 Risk assessment—matters to be taken into account
11 Prescribed conditions of licence
11A Time limit for deciding variation application
Division 2—Notifiable low risk dealings
12 Notifiable low risk dealings
13 Requirements for undertaking notifiable low risk dealings
13B Requirements for Institutional Biosafety Committees about records of assessments of notifiable low risk dealing proposals
13C Information to be kept or given to the Regulator by persons or accredited organisations
Division 3—Certification and accreditation
14 Regulator to decide certification application within 90 days
15 Application for certification—failure to provide section 85 information
16 Regulator to decide accreditation application within 90 days
17 Application for accreditation—failure to provide section 93 information
Part 4—Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee
Division 1—Conditions of appointment
18 GTTAC members and advisers—term of appointment
19 GTTAC members and advisers—resignation
20 GTTAC members—disclosure of interests
21 GTTAC members and advisers—termination of appointment
22 GTTAC members—leave of absence
23 Expert advisers—disclosure of interests
Division 2—Committee procedures
24 Committee procedures generally
25 Committee meetings
26 Presiding member
27 Quorum
28 Voting
29 Records and Reports
Division 3—Subcommittees
30 Operation of subcommittees
Part 5—Ethics and Community Committee
31 Ethics and Community Committee—conditions of appointment
32 Ethics and Community Committee—Committee procedures
33 Ethics and Community Committee—operation of subcommittees
Part 7—Miscellaneous
37 Reviewable State decisions
38 Review of decisions
39 Record of GMO Dealings
40 Inspector identity card
Part 8—Application and transitional provisions
Division 1—Amendments made by the Gene Technology Variation Regulations 2019
41 Changed requirements for dealings
42 Previous assessment by an Institutional Biosafety Committee
43 New requirements for giving records to Regulator apply to notifiable low risk dealing assessed in previous financial year
Schedule 1A—Techniques that are not gene technology
Schedule 1B—Organisms that are genetically modified organisms
1.1 Genetically modified organisms
Schedule 1—Organisms that are not genetically modified organisms
Schedule 2—Dealings exempt from licensing
Part 1—Exempt dealings
Part 2—Host/vector systems for exempt dealings
2.1 Hosts and vectors
Part 3—Definitions
Schedule 3—Notifiable low risk dealings in relation to a GMO
Part 1—Notifiable low risk dealings suitable for at least physical containment level 1
1.1 Kinds of dealings suitable for at least physical containment level 1
Part 2—Notifiable low risk dealings suitable for at least physical containment level 2 or 3
2.1 Kinds of dealings suitable for at least physical containment level 2
2.2 Kinds of dealing suitable for at least physical containment level 3
Part 3—Dealings that are not notifiable low risk dealings
3.1 Kinds of dealings
Legislative history
Part 1—Preliminary
1—Short title
(1) These regulations may be cited as the Gene Technology Regulations 2017.
(2) These regulations may also be referred to as the Gene Technology Regulations.
3—Definitions
In these regulations—
Act means the Gene Technology Act 2001;
advantage, in relation to an organism that is genetically modified, means a superior ability in its modified form, relative to the unmodified parent organism, to survive, reproduce or otherwise contribute to the gene pool;
animal includes every kind of organism in the animal kingdom, including non‑vertebrates but not including human beings;
AS/NZS 2243.3:2010 means the Australian/New Zealand Standard Safety in laboratories Part 3: Microbiological safety and containment, as in force on 1 September 2011;
characterised means—
(a) in relation to a nucleic acid—the nucleic acid has been sequenced and there is an understanding of potential gene products or potential functions of the nucleic acid; or
(b) in relation to a genetic modification—the gene or genomic region which is modified has been sequenced and there is an understanding of—
(i) potential gene products or potential functions of the gene or genomic region; and
(ii) the likely effect of the genetic modification on the gene products or functions;
Commonwealth regulations means the Gene Technology Regulations 2001 of the Commonwealth;
expert adviser means—
(a) in Part 4—an expert adviser appointed under section 102(1) of the Commonwealth Act; and
(b) in Part 5—an expert adviser appointed under section 112(1) of the Commonwealth Act;
genetically modified laboratory guinea pig means a laboratory strain of guinea pig of the species Cavia porcellus that has been modified by gene technology;
genetically modified laboratory mouse means a laboratory strain of mouse of the species Mus musculus that has been modified by gene technology;
genetically modified laboratory rabbit means a laboratory strain of rabbit of the species Oryctolagus cuniculus that has been modified by gene technology;
genetically modified laboratory rat means a laboratory strain of rat of either the species Rattus rattus or Rattus norvegicus that has been modified by gene technology;
host/vector system has a meaning affected by subclause 2.1(3) of Schedule 2;
infectious agent means an agent that is capable of entering, surviving in, multiplying, and potentially causing disease in, a susceptible host;
inspector means a person appointed by the Regulator under section 150 of the Act as an inspector;
known means known within the scientific community;
non-conjugative plasmid, for Schedule 2, has the meaning given in Part 3 of that Schedule;
non‑vector system has the meaning given in Part 3 of Schedule 2;
nucleic acid means either, or both, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), or ribonucleic acid (RNA), of any length;
oncogenic modification means a genetic modification capable of contributing to tumour formation, including modifications that cause at least 1 of the following:
(a) defects in DNA proofreading and repair;
(b) defects in chromosome maintenance;
(c) defects in cell cycle checkpoint mechanisms;
(d) uncontrolled cell proliferation;
(e) resistance to apoptosis;
(f) cellular immortalisation;
packaging cell line means an animal or human cell line that contains a gene or genes that when expressed in trans are necessary and sufficient to complement packaging defects of a replication defective viral vector in order to produce packaged replication defective virions;
pathogenic, in relation to an organism, means having the capacity to cause disease or abnormality;
pathogenic determinant means a characteristic that has the potential to increase the capacity of a host or vector to cause disease or abnormality;
physical containment level, followed by a numeral, is a specified containment level under guidelines made by the Regulator, under section 90 of the Act, for the certification of facilities;
plasmid means a DNA molecule capable of autonomous replication and stable extra‑chromosomal maintenance in a host cell;
shot-gun cloning means the production of a large random collection of cloned fragments of nucleic acid from which genes of interest can later be selected;
toxin means a substance that is toxic to any vertebrate;
toxin-producing organism means an organism producing toxin with an LD50 of less than 100 micrograms per kilogram;
transduce, in relation to a viral vector or viral particle, means enter an intact cell by interaction of the viral particle with the cell membrane.
Note—
Several other words and expressions used in these regulations have the meaning given by section 10, or another provision, of the Act. For example—
• accredited organisation
• deal with
• environment
• facility
• Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee
• GMO
• Institutional Biosafety Committee
• intentional release of the GMO into the environment (see section 11)
• notifiable low risk dealing
• Regulator.
3A—Numbering
(1) In order to maintain consistent numbering between these regulations and the Commonwealth Regulations—
(a) if the Commonwealth Regulations contain a regulation that is not required in these regulations, the provision number and heading to the regulation appearing in the Commonwealth Regulations are included in these regulations despite the omission of the body of the regulation; and
(b) if these regulations contain a regulation that is not included in the Commonwealth Regulations, the regulation is numbered so as to maintain consistency in numbering between regulations common to both regulations.
(2) A provision number and heading referred to in subregulation (1)(a) form part of these regulations.
Notes—
1 A note appears under each heading of a kind referred to in subregulation (1)(a) describing the omitted regulation of the Commonwealth Regulations.
2 A note appears under each regulation of a kind referred to in subregulation (1)(b) highlighting the non‑appearance of an equivalent regulation in the Commonwealth Regulations.
3 This regulation does not appear in the Commonwealth Regulations.
Part 2—Interpretation and general operation
4—Techniques not constituting gene technology
For the purposes of paragraph (c) of the definition of gene technology in section 10(1) of the Act, gene technology does not include a technique mentioned in Schedule 1A.
4A—Organisms that are genetically modified organisms
For the purposes of paragraph (c) of the definition of genetically modified organism in section 10(1) of the Act, an organism is a genetically modified organism if an item in Schedule 1B applies to the organism.
5—Organisms that are not genetically modified organisms
For the purposes of paragraph (e) of the definition of genetically modified organism in section 10(1) of the Act, an organism is not a genetically modified organism if—
(a) one or more items in Schedule 1 applies to the organism; and
(b) the organism has not been modified by gene technology except for any modifications described in those items; and
(c) the organism has not inherited any traits from an organism (the initial organism), being traits that occurred in the initial organism because of gene technology, except as described in item 9 in Schedule 1; and
(d) none of the items in Schedule 1B applies to the organism.
Part 3—Dealings with GMOs
Division 1—Licensing system
6—Dealings exempt from licensing
(1) For the purposes of section 32(3) of the Act, a dealing, in relation to a GMO, is an exempt dealing if—
(a) it is a dealing of a kind referred to in Part 1 of Schedule 2; and
(b) it does not involve a genetic modification other than a modification described in Part 1 of Schedule 2; and
(d) it does not involve an intentional release of the GMO into the environment.
(2) For the avoidance of doubt, exemption under subregulation (1) does not apply to a dealing that does not comply with subregulation (1), whether or not that dealing is related to a dealing that does so comply.
Notes—
1 A dealing affected by this regulation could be any of the forms of dealing mentioned in the definition of deal with in section 10(1) of the Act.
2 Exemption from provisions of the Act does not preclude the application of other Commonwealth and State laws.
3 Intentional release of the GMO into the environment is defined in section 11 of the Act.
7—Application for licence—prescribed fee
Note—
At the commencement of this regulation, no application fee is prescribed under section 40(6) of the Act.
8—Time limit for deciding an application
(1) For the purposes of section 43(3) of the Act, the period within which the Regulator must issue, or refuse to issue, a licence is—
(a) in relation to an application to which Division 3 of Part 5 of the Act applies, 90 days after the day the application is received by the Regulator; or
(b) in relation to an application to which Division 4 of Part 5 of the Act applies—
(i) for a limited and controlled release application for which the Regulator is satisfied that the dealings proposed to be authorised by the licence do not pose significant risks to the health and safety of people or to the environment—150 days after the day the application is received by the Regulator; and
(ii) for a limited and controlled release application for which the Regulator is satisfied that at least 1 of the dealings proposed to be authorised by the licence may pose significant risks to the health and safety of people or to the environment—170 days after the day the application is received by the Regulator; and
(iii) in any other case—255 days after the day the application is received by the Regulator.
(2) For the purpose of determining the end of a period mentioned in subregulation (1), the following days are not counted:
(a) a Saturday, a Sunday or a public holiday in the Australian Capital Territory;
(b) a day on which the Regulator cannot proceed with the decision-making process, or a related function, because the Regulator is awaiting information that the applicant has been requested, in writing, to give;
(c) if, in relation to the application, the Regulator publishes notice of a public hearing under section 53 of the Act, a day in the period that—
(i) begins on the day of publication; and
(ii) ends on the day when the public hearing ends;
(d) a day on which the Regulator cannot proceed with the decision-making process, or a related function, because—
(i) the applicant has requested, under section 184 of the Act, that information given in relation to the application be declared confidential commercial information for the purposes of the Act; and
(ii) the Regulator is—
(A) considering the application; or
(B) waiting until any review rights under section 181 or 183 of the Act, in relation to the application, are exhausted;
(e) if, in relation to the application, the Regulator requests the Ethics and Community Committee to provide advice on an ethical issue, a day in the period that—
(i) begins on the day the request is made; and
(ii) subject to subregulation (3), ends on the day when the advice is given or, if the advice is not given within the period, if any, specified under subregulation (3), on the last day of that period.
(3) The Regulator, when seeking advice under section 50(3) or 52(3) of the Act, or from the Ethics and Community Committee, may specify a reasonable period within which the advice must be received, and, if the advice is not received within that period, must proceed without regard to that advice.
(4) In subregulation (1)—
limited and controlled release application means an application for a licence to which section 50A of the Act applies.
9—Prescribed authorities
(1) For the purposes of sections 50(3)(c) and 52(3)(c) of the Act, the following Commonwealth authorities and agencies are prescribed:
(a) Food Standards Australia New Zealand;
(b) Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service;
(d) that part of the Department known as the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme;
(e) Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority;
(f) that part of the Department known as the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
(2) In this regulation—
Department has the same meaning as in the Commonwealth Act.
9A—Risks posed by dealings proposed to be authorised by licence
For the purposes of section 51(1)(a) of the Act, the Regulator must have regard to the following matters:
(a) the properties of the organism to which dealings proposed to be authorised by a licence relate before it became, or will become, a GMO;
(b) the effect, or the expected effect, of the genetic modification that has occurred, or will occur, on the properties of the organism;
(c) provisions for limiting the dissemination or persistence of the GMO or its genetic material in the environment;
(d) the potential for spread or persistence of the GMO or its genetic material in the environment;
(e) the extent or scale of the proposed dealings;
(f) any likely impacts of the proposed dealings on the health and safety of people.
10—Risk assessment—matters to be taken into account
(1) For the purposes of sections 51(1)(g) and 51(2)(g) of the Act, other matters to be taken into account in relation to dealings proposed to be authorised by a licence include—
(a) subject to section 45 of the Act, any previous assessment by a regulatory authority, in Australia or overseas, in relation to allowing or approving dealings with the GMO; and
(b) the potential of the GMO concerned to—
(i) be harmful to other organisms; and
(ii) adversely affect any ecosystems; and
(iii) transfer genetic material to another organism; and
(iv) spread, or persist, in the environment; and
(v) have, in comparison to related organisms, an advantage in the environment; and
(vi) be toxic, allergenic or pathogenic to other organisms.
(2) In taking into account a risk mentioned in section 51(1) of the Act, or a potential capacity mentioned in subregulation (1), the Regulator must consider both the short term and the long term.
11—Prescribed conditions of licence
Note—
At the commencement of these regulations, no conditions are prescribed under section 61(b) of the Act.
11A—Time limit for deciding variation application
(1) For section 71(7) of the Act, the Regulator must vary the licence, or refuse to vary the licence, within 90 days after the day an application for a variation of the licence is received by the Regulator.
(2) For the period mentioned in subregulation (1), the following days are not counted:
(a) a Saturday or a public holiday in South Australia;
(b) a day on which the Regulator cannot proceed with the decision‑making process, or a related function, because the Regulator is waiting for information that the applicant has been asked, in writing, to give.
Note—
This subregulation differs from regulation 11A(2) of the Commonwealth regulations.
Division 2—Notifiable low risk dealings
12—Notifiable low risk dealings
(1) For the purposes of section 74(1) of the Act, a dealing with a GMO is a notifiable low risk dealing if—
(a) it is a dealing of a kind mentioned in Part 1 or 2 of Schedule 3; and
(aa) it is not a dealing of a kind mentioned in Part 3 of Schedule 3; and
(b) it does not involve an intentional release of the GMO into the environment.
(2) For the avoidance of doubt, subregulation (1) does not apply to a dealing that does not comply with subregulation (1), whether or not that dealing is related to a dealing that does so comply.
Notes—
1 A dealing affected by this regulation could be any of the forms of dealing mentioned in the definition of deal with in section 10(1) of the Act.
2 Intentional release of the GMO into the environment is defined in section 11 of the Act.
13—Requirements for undertaking notifiable low risk dealings
(1) A person may undertake a notifiable low risk dealing only if—
(a) the person or an accredited organisation has prepared and submitted a written proposal for an Institutional Biosafety Committee to assess whether the dealing is a notifiable low risk dealing; and
(b) the Institutional Biosafety Committee has assessed the dealing to be a kind of dealing mentioned in Part 1 or 2 of Schedule 3, and not mentioned in Part 3 of Schedule 3; and
(c) the dealing undertaken is the dealing described in the Institutional Biosafety Committee's record of assessment of the proposal; and
(d) the dealing is only undertaken no later than the day 5 years after the date of the assessment; and
(e) the person is mentioned in, or is in a class of persons mentioned in, the Institutional Biosafety Committee's record of assessment as having the appropriate training and experience to undertake the dealing; and
(f) subject to subregulation (3), the dealing is undertaken in facilities that—
(i) are mentioned in, or are in a class of facilities mentioned in, the Institutional Biosafety Committee's record of assessment as being appropriate for the dealing; and
(ii) are facilities in which subregulation (2) permits the dealing to be undertaken; and
(g) the person keeps or can give, on request, a copy of the Institutional Biosafety Committee's record of assessment to an inspector; and
(h) the person does not compromise the containment of a GMO involved in the dealing.
(2) A notifiable low risk dealing must be undertaken—
(a) for a kind of dealing mentioned in Part 1 of Schedule 3—in a facility certified by the Regulator to at least physical containment level 1 and that is appropriate for the dealing; or
(b) for a kind of dealing mentioned in clause 2.1 of Schedule 3 (but not clause 2.2)—in a facility certified by the Regulator to at least physical containment level 2 and that is appropriate for the dealing; or
(ba) for a kind of dealing mentioned in clause 2.2 of Schedule 3—in a facility certified by the Regulator to at least physical containment level 3 and that is appropriate for the dealing; or
(c) in a facility that the Regulator has agreed in writing is a facility in which the dealing may be undertaken.
(3) If a notifiable low risk dealing involves the transportation, storage or disposal of a GMO, the transportation, storage or disposal may happen outside a facility that complies with paragraph (1)(f) and subregulation (2), if it is conducted in accordance with—
(a) the Guidelines for the Transport, Storage and Disposal of GMOs, as in force from time to time, that have been issued by the Regulator under paragraph 27(d) of the Act; or
(b) transportation, storage or disposal requirements that the Regulator has agreed in writing are appropriate for the containment of the GMO.
(4) For subregulation (2)(c), the Regulator must consider the capacity of a facility to contain GMOs before deciding whether to agree, in writing, to a facility.
13B—Requirements for Institutional Biosafety Committees about records of assessments of notifiable low risk dealing proposals
An Institutional Biosafety Committee that has assessed a proposal as to whether a dealing is a notifiable low risk dealing must—
(a) make a record of its assessment, in a form approved by the Regulator, that includes the following:
(i) the identifying name of the dealing to be undertaken that was given to the dealing by the person or accredited organisation that submitted the proposal;
(ii) a description of the dealing to be undertaken;
(iii) its assessment whether the dealing is a kind of dealing mentioned in Part 1 or 2 of Schedule 3, and not mentioned in Part 3 of Schedule 3;
(iv) if the Committee has assessed the dealing as being a kind of dealing mentioned in Part 1 or 2 of Schedule 3 (and not mentioned in Part 3 of Schedule 3)—which kind of dealing in those Parts that the dealing is;
(v) the date of the Committee's assessment of the dealing;
(vi) the persons or classes of persons considered by the Committee to have the appropriate training and experience to undertake the dealing;
(vii) the facilities or classes of facilities the Committee considers to be of the appropriate physical containment level and type for the dealing, having regard to the requirements of regulation 13(2);
(viii) the name of the Committee that assessed the proposal;
(ix) the name of the person or accredited organisation that submitted the proposal;
(x) the person or persons proposing to undertake the dealing; and
(b) give a copy of the record of assessment to the person or accredited organisation that submitted the proposal to the Committee.
13C—Information to be kept or given to the Regulator by persons or accredited organisations
(1) A person or accredited organisation that has been given a copy of a record of assessment by an Institutional Biosafety Committee under regulation 13B(b) must, if the dealing has been assessed by the Committee as a notifiable low risk dealing, give the Regulator a record of the dealing.
(2) A record of a dealing for the purposes of subregulation (1) must include—
(a) the particulars, prescribed under regulation 39 in relation to the dealing, to be included in the Record of GMO Dealings; and
(b) the name of the Committee that assessed the proposal relating to the dealing; and
(c) the name of the person or accredited organisation that submitted the proposal to the Committee for assessment.
(2a) The record must be given to the Regulator—
(a) in a form approved by the Regulator; and
(b) no later than 30 September in the financial year following the one in which the Institutional Biosafety Committee made the assessment.
(2b) An accredited organisation that is required, as a condition of accreditation, to give an annual report to the Regulator, must—
(a) include the record in the annual report for the year in which the Institutional Biosafety Committee made the assessment; or
(b) certify in the annual report that the record has previously been given to the Regulator.
(3) A person or accredited organisation given a copy of a record of assessment by an Institutional Biosafety Committee under regulation 13B(b) must keep a copy of the Committee's record of assessment for 8 years after the date of the assessment.
(4) The Regulator may at any time, by written notice, require from the following persons or organisations further information about how a notifiable low risk dealing is being undertaken, including information about a GMO being dealt with:
(a) the person or accredited organisation that submitted the proposal for assessment of the dealing;
(b) any other person involved with undertaking the dealing.
(5) A person or organisation given a notice under subregulation (4) must, by the end of the period mentioned in the notice, give the Regulator the information required by the notice.
Division 3—Certification and accreditation
14—Regulator to decide certification application within 90 days
Note—
The Commonwealth Regulations provide the period within which the Regulator must consider and decide an application for certification of a facility.
15—Application for certification—failure to provide section 85 information
If an applicant for certification fails to provide information required under section 85(1) of the Act within the period specified in a notice given under section 85(2) of the Act, and gives no reasonable explanation for the failure, the Regulator may refuse to certify the facility that is the subject of the application.
Note—
A refusal to certify a facility is a reviewable decision (see Division 2 of Part 12 of the Act).
16—Regulator to decide accreditation application within 90 days
Note—
The Commonwealth Regulations provide the period within which the Regulator must consider and decide an application for accreditation of an organisation.
17—Application for accreditation—failure to provide section 93 information
If an applicant for accreditation fails to provide information required under section 93(1) of the Act within the period specified in a notice given under section 93(2) of the Act, and gives no reasonable explanation for the failure, the Regulator may refuse to accredit the organisation that is the subject of the application.
Note—
A refusal to accredit an organisation is a reviewable decision (see Division 2 of Part 12 of the Act).
Part 4—Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee
Division 1—Conditions of appointment
18—GTTAC members and advisers—term of appointment
Note—
Regulation 18 of the Commonwealth Regulations provides for the term of appointment of members of the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee and expert advisers to the GTTAC.
19—GTTAC members and advisers—resignation
Note—
Regulation 19 of the Commonwealth Regulations provides for the resignation of members of the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee and expert advisers to the GTTAC.
20—GTTAC members—disclosure of interests
Note—
Regulation 20 of the Commonwealth Regulations sets out when and how members of the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee must disclose any interests of a kind likely to be considered at a meeting of the GTTAC.
21—GTTAC members and advisers—termination of appointment
Note—
Regulation 21 of the Commonwealth Regulations sets out the circumstances of terminating the appointment of members of the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee and expert advisers to the GTTAC.
22—GTTAC members—leave of absence
Note—
Regulation 22 of the Commonwealth Regulations provides when the Chairperson and members of the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee may be granted leave.
23—Expert advisers—disclosure of interests
Note—
Regulation 23 of the Commonwealth Regulations sets out when and how expert advisers to the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee must disclose any interests of a kind likely to be considered at a meeting of the GTTAC.
Division 2—Committee procedures
24—Committee procedures generally
Note—
Regulation 24 of the Commonwealth Regulations provides that the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee must perform its functions as informally as the Commonwealth Regulations allow and how the GTTAC may obtain information.
25—Committee meetings
Note—
Regulation 25 of the Commonwealth Regulations provides when the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee may have meetings and provides that in certain circumstances meetings may be by videoconference or teleconference.
26—Presiding member
Note—
Regulation 26 of the Commonwealth Regulations provides that the Chairperson of the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee presides at its meetings and who presides in the Chairperson's absence.
27—Quorum
Note—
Regulation 27 of the Commonwealth Regulations provides that half the members of the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee comprises the GTTAC's quorum.
28—Voting
Note—
Regulation 28 of the Commonwealth Regulations provides that decisions of the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee must be made by a majority of members present and voting and that the Chairperson has a deliberative and casting vote.
29—Records and Reports
Note—
Regulation 29 of the Commonwealth Regulations provides that records must be kept of the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee's proceedings and when reports must be prepared.
Division 3—Subcommittees
30—Operation of subcommittees
Note—
Regulation 30 of the Commonwealth Regulations states that regulations 24, 25, 26 and 28 of those regulations apply to a subcommittee established under section 105(1) of the Commonwealth Act.
Part 5—Ethics and Community Committee
31—Ethics and Community Committee—conditions of appointment
Note—
Regulation 31 of the Commonwealth Regulations provides that Division 1 of Part 4 of the Commonwealth Regulations applies to the conditions of appointment of members of the Ethics and Community Committee.
32—Ethics and Community Committee—Committee procedures
Note—
Regulation 32 of the Commonwealth Regulations provides that Division 2 of Part 4 of the Commonwealth Regulations applies to the procedures of members of the Ethics and Community Committee.
33—Ethics and Community Committee—operation of subcommittees
Note—
Regulation 33 of the Commonwealth Regulations provides that regulations 24, 25, 26 and 28 of the Commonwealth Regulations apply to a subcommittee established under subsection 111(1) of the Commonwealth Act.
Part 7—Miscellaneous
37—Reviewable State decisions
Note—
The scheme for reviewable State decisions under the Commonwealth Act does not apply under the South Australian legislation.
38—Review of decisions
Note—
Regulation 38 of the Commonwealth Regulations provides that a person whose interests are affected by a decision in relation to the termination of the appointment of a member to a committee under those regulations may apply to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of the decision.
39—Record of GMO Dealings
For the purposes of section 138(4) of the Act, the following particulars are prescribed in relation to a notifiable low risk dealing that is notified to the Regulator:
(a) the person or persons that proposed to undertake the dealing, as recorded by the Institutional Biosafety Committee that assessed the dealing as a notifiable low risk dealing;
(b) the kind of notifiable low risk dealing, in terms of Part 1 or 2 of Schedule 3;
(c) the identifying name given to the dealing by the person or accredited organisation that submitted the dealing to the Institutional Biosafety Committee for assessment;
(d) the date of assessment by the Institutional Biosafety Committee that the dealing is a notifiable low risk dealing.
40—Inspector identity card
For the purposes of section 151(2)(a) of the Act, an inspector's identity card must—
(a) display a recent photograph of the inspector's face; and
(b) state the date of issue; and
(c) state the period of its validity.
Part 8—Application and transitional provisions
Division 1—Amendments made by the Gene Technology Variation Regulations 2019
41—Changed requirements for dealings
Former exempt dealings
(1) If—
(a) a person was undertaking a dealing before the amending day; and
(b) the dealing was an exempt dealing under the old regulations; and
(c) the dealing is not (apart from this provision) an exempt dealing under the new regulations,
then, despite the amendments, the dealing is an exempt dealing when undertaken by the person.
(2) Subregulation (1) applies until—
(a) the dealing is assessed, under the new regulations, as a notifiable low risk dealing by an Institutional Biosafety Committee; or
(b) the person is issued a GMO licence for the dealing; or
(c) 1 year after the amending day if neither of the events in paragraphs (a) and (b) occurs before then.
Former notifiable low risk dealings
(3) If—
(a) a person was undertaking a dealing before the amending day; and
(b) the dealing was a notifiable low risk dealing under the old regulations; and
(c) the dealing—
(i) is not (apart from this provision) a notifiable low risk dealing under the new regulations; and
(ii) is not an exempt dealing,
then, despite the amendments, the dealing is a notifiable low risk dealing when undertaken by the person.
(4) Subregulation (3) applies until—
(a) the person is issued a GMO licence for the dealing; or
(b) 1 year after the amending day if the person is not issued a GMO licence before then.
Changed requirements for notifiable low risk dealings
(5) If a person was undertaking a notifiable low risk dealing before the amending day, the dealing is, for the purposes of section 37 of the Act, undertaken in accordance with the regulations if—
(a) it is undertaken in accordance with the old regulations; or
(b) it is undertaken in accordance with the new regulations.
(6) Subregulation (5) ceases to be in force 1 year after the amending day.
Definitions
(7) In this regulation—
amending day means the day that Part 2 of the amending regulations commences;
amending regulations means the Gene Technology Variation Regulations 2019;
new regulations means these regulations as amended by the amending regulations;
old regulations means these regulations as in force immediately before the amending day.
42—Previous assessment by an Institutional Biosafety Committee
(1) This regulation applies if—
(a) before 1 July 2020, an Institutional Biosafety Committee assessed a dealing as being a notifiable low risk dealing mentioned in Part 1 or 2 of Schedule 3; and
(b) the record of the Committee's assessment does not indicate that the Committee assessed whether the dealing is of a kind mentioned in Part 3 of Schedule 3.
(2) The Committee is taken to have assessed the dealing as being a kind of dealing that is not mentioned in Part 3 of Schedule 3.
43—New requirements for giving records to Regulator apply to notifiable low risk dealing assessed in previous financial year
Regulation 13C as amended by the Gene Technology Variation Regulations 2019 applies in relation to a dealing that has been assessed by an Institutional Biosafety Committee as a notifiable low risk dealing on or after 1 July 2019.
Schedule 1A—Techniques that are not gene technology
(regulation 4)
Item
Description of technique
1
Either of the following transfers, if the transfer does not involve genetically modified material:
(a) nuclear transfer;
(b) transfer of plastids or mitochondria.
2
Electromagnetic radiation-induced mutagenesis.
3
Particle radiation-induced mutagenesis.
4
Chemical-induced mutagenesis.
5
Fusion of animal cells, or human cells, if the fused cells are unable to form a viable whole animal or human.
6
Protoplast fusion, including fusion of plant protoplasts.
7
Embryo rescue.
8
In vitro fertilisation.
9
Zygote implantation.
10
A natural process, if the process does not involve genetically modified material.
Examples—
Examples of natural processes include conjugation, transduction, transformation and transposon mutagenesis.
11
Introduction of nucleic acid or nucleic acid analogue into an organism, if—
(a) the introduction of the nucleic acid or nucleic acid analogue does not result in an alteration of the organism's genome sequence; and
(b) the introduction of the nucleic acid or nucleic acid analogue cannot give rise to an infectious agent; and
(c) in the case of nucleic acid or nucleic acid analogue that is DNA—the DNA cannot be transcribed.
Schedule 1B—Organisms that are genetically modified organisms
Note—
See regulation 4A.
1.1—Genetically modified organisms
For the purposes of regulation 4A, an organism is a genetically modified organism if an item in the following table applies to the organism.
Item
Description of organism
1
An organism that has had its genome modified by oligonucleotide‑directed mutagenesis.
2
An organism modified by repair of single‑strand or double‑strand breaks of genomic DNA induced by a site‑directed nuclease, if a nucleic acid template was added to guide homology‑directed repair.
Schedule 1—Organisms that are not genetically modified organisms
(regulation 5)
Item
Description of organism
2
A whole animal, or a human being, modified by the introduction of naked recombinant nucleic acid (such as a DNA vaccine) into its somatic cells, if the introduced nucleic acid is incapable of giving rise to infectious agents.
3
Naked plasmid DNA that is incapable of giving rise to infectious agents when introduced into a host cell.
4
An organism modified by repair of single‑strand or double‑strand breaks of genomic DNA induced by a site‑directed nuclease, if a nucleic acid template was not added to guide homology‑directed repair.
6
A micro‑organism that results from an exchange of DNA if—
(a) the donor species is also the host species; and
(b) the exchanged DNA does not contain any heterologous DNA.
7
An organism that results from an exchange of DNA between the donor species and the host species if—
(a) such exchange can occur by naturally occurring processes; and
(b) the donor species and the host species are micro-organisms that—
(i) satisfy the criteria in AS/NZS 2243.3:2010, for classification as Risk Group 1; and
(ii) are known to exchange nucleic acid by a natural physiological process; and
(c) the vector used in the exchange does not contain heterologous DNA from any organism other than an organism that is involved in the exchange.
8
An organism that is descended from a genetically modified organism (the initial organism), if none of the traits it has inherited from the initial organism are traits that occurred in the initial organism because of gene technology.
9
An organism that has inherited particular traits from an organism (the initial organism), being traits that occurred in the initial organism because of gene technology, if—
(a) the initial organism was not a genetically modified organism (because of the application of regulation 5); or
(b) all such inherited traits are traits that occurred in the initial organism as a result of a modification described in an item in this Schedule.
10
An organism that was modified by gene technology but in which the modification, and any traits that occurred because of gene technology, are either no longer present or are epigenetic.
11
Agrobacterium radiobacter strain K1026.
12
Pasteurella multocida strain PMP1.
Schedule 2—Dealings exempt from licensing
(regulation 6)
Note—
Regulation 6(1) sets out other requirements for exempt dealings.
Part 1—Exempt dealings
Item
Description of dealing
2
A dealing with a genetically modified Caenorhabditis elegans, unless—
(a) an advantage is conferred on the animal by the genetic modification; or
(b) as a result of the genetic modification, the animal is capable of secreting or producing an infectious agent.
3
A dealing with an animal into which genetically modified somatic cells have been introduced, if—
(a) the somatic cells are not capable of giving rise to infectious agents as a result of the genetic modification; and
(b) the animal is not infected with a virus that is capable of recombining with the genetically modified nucleic acid in the somatic cells.
3A
A dealing with an animal whose somatic cells have been genetically modified in vivo by a replication defective viral vector, if—
(a) the in vivo modification occurred as part of a previous dealing; and
(b) the replication defective viral vector is no longer in the animal; and
(c) no germ line cells have been genetically modified; and
(d) the somatic cells cannot give rise to infectious agents as a result of the genetic modification; and
(e) the animal is not infected with a virus that can recombine with the genetically modified nucleic acid in the somatic cells of the animal.
4
(1)
Subject to subitem (2), a dealing involving a host/vector system mentioned in Part 2 of this Schedule and producing no more than 25 litres of GMO culture in each vessel containing the resultant culture.
(2)
The donor nucleic acid—
(a) must meet either of the following requirements:
(i) it must not be derived from organisms implicated in, or with a history of causing, disease in otherwise healthy—
(A) human beings; or
(B) animals; or
(C) plants; or
(D) fungi;
(ii) it must be characterised and the information derived from its characterisation show that it is unlikely to increase the capacity of the host or vector to cause harm; and
Example—
Donor nucleic acid would not comply with subparagraph (ii) if its characterisation shows that, in relation to the capacity of the host or vector to cause harm, it—
(a) provides an advantage; or
(b) adds a potential host species or mode of transmission; or
(c) increases its virulence, pathogenicity or transmissibility.
(b) must not code for a toxin with an LD50 of less than 100 micrograms per kilogram; and
(c) must not code for a toxin with an LD50 of 100 micrograms per kilogram or more, if the intention is to express the toxin at high levels; and
(d) must not be uncharacterised nucleic acid from a toxin‑producing organism; and
(e) if the donor nucleic acid includes a viral sequence—cannot give rise to infectious agents when introduced into any potential host species, without additional non-host genes or gene products that—
(i) are not available in the host cell into which the nucleic acid is introduced as part of the dealing; and
(ii) will not become available during the dealing; and
(f) if the donor nucleic acid includes a viral sequence—cannot restore replication competence to the vector.
5
A dealing involving shot-gun cloning, or the preparation of a cDNA library, in a host/vector system mentioned in items 1 to 6 of the table in Part 2 of this Schedule, if the donor nucleic acid is not derived from either—
(a) a pathogen; or
(b) a toxin-producing organism.
Part 2—Host/vector systems for exempt dealings
2.1—Hosts and vectors
(1) A reference to a host mentioned in this Part is a reference to a host mentioned in column 2 of an item of the table in this clause.
(2) A reference to a vector mentioned in this Part is a reference to a vector mentioned in column 3 of an item of the table in this clause.
(3) A reference to a host/vector system mentioned in this Part is a reference to any of the following:
(a) a system involving a host mentioned in column 2 of an item of the table in this clause and a vector mentioned in column 3 of the same item;
(b) a non‑vector system involving a host mentioned in column 2 of an item of the table;
(c) a system involving a GMO mentioned as a vector in column 3 of an item of the table (except item 7), without a host.
Note—
Column 1 of the table is included for information only.
Item
Column 1
Host class
Column 2
Hosts
Column 3
Vectors
1
Bacteria
Escherichia coli K12, E. coli B, E. coli C or E. coli Nissle 1917—any derivative that does not contain—
Any of the following:
(a) generalised transducing phages; or
(a) non-conjugative plasmids;
(b) genes able to complement the conjugation defect in a non‑conjugative plasmid.
(b) lambda bacteriophage;
(c) lambdoid bacteriophage;
(d) Fd, F1 or M13 bacteriophage.
2
Bacteria
Bacillus—asporogenic strains of the following species with a reversion frequency of less than 10—7:
Any of the following:
(a) B. amyloliquefaciens;
(a) non-conjugative plasmids;
(b) B. licheniformis;
(b) other plasmids and phages whose host range does not include B. cereus, B. anthracis or any other pathogenic strain of Bacillus.
(c) B. pumilus;
(d) B. subtilis;
(e) B. thuringiensis.
3
Bacteria
Pseudomonas putida strain KT 2440.
Non‑conjugative plasmids.
4
Bacteria
The following Streptomyces species:
Any of the following:
(a) S. aureofaciens;
(a) non-conjugative plasmids;
(b) S. coelicolor;
(b) plasmids SCP2, SLP1, SLP2, pIJ101 and derivatives;
(c) S. cyaneus;
(c) actinophage phi C31 and derivatives.
(d) S. griseus;
(e) S. lividans;
(f) S. parvulus;
(g) S. rimosus;
(h) S. venezuelae.
5
Bacteria
Any of the following:
Disarmed Ri or Ti plasmids.
8
Slime moulds
Dictyostelium species.
Dictyostelium shuttle vectors, including those based on the endogenous plasmids Ddp1 and Ddp2.
9
Tissue culture
Any of the following if they cannot spontaneously generate a whole animal:
Any of the following:
(a) animal or human cell cultures (including packaging cell lines);
(a) plasmids;
(b) isolated cells, isolated tissues or isolated organs, whether animal or human;
(b) replication defective viral vectors unable to transduce human cells;
(c) early non‑human mammalian embryos cultured in vitro.
(c) polyhedrin minus forms of the baculovirus Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (ACNPV).
10
Tissue culture
Either of the following if they are not intended, and are not likely without human intervention, to vegetatively propagate, flower or regenerate into a whole plant:
Any of the following:
(a) plant cell cultures;
(a) Disarmed Ri or Ti plasmids in Agrobacterium radiobacter, Agrobacterium rhizogenes (disarmed strains only) or Agrobacterium tumefaciens (disarmed strains only);
(b) isolated plant tissues or organs.
(b) non‑pathogenic viral vectors.
Part 3—Definitions
In this Schedule—
code for, in relation to a toxin, means to specify the amino acid sequence of the toxin;
non-conjugative plasmid means a plasmid that is not self-transmissible, and includes, but is not limited to, non-conjugative forms of the following plasmids:
(a) bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs);
(b) cosmids;
(c) P1 artificial chromosomes (PACs);
(d) yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs);
non‑vector system means a system in which donor nucleic acid is or was introduced into a host cell—
(a) in the absence of a nucleic acid‑based vector; or
(b) using a nucleic acid‑based vector in the course of a previous dealing and the vector is—
(i) no longer present; or
(ii) present but cannot be remobilised from a host cell.
Example 1—
A system mentioned in paragraph (a) might involve the use of electroporation or particle bombardment.
Example 2—
A system mentioned in paragraph (b) might involve cells that were transduced with a replication defective retroviral vector in which no vector particles remain.
Schedule 3—Notifiable low risk dealings in relation to a GMO
(Regulations 12 and 13)
Part 1—Notifiable low risk dealings suitable for at least physical containment level 1
Note—
Because of regulation 12(1), a dealing mentioned in this Part is not a notifiable low risk dealing if it is also a dealing of a kind mentioned in Part 3 of this Schedule.
1.1—Kinds of dealings suitable for at least physical containment level 1
The following kinds of notifiable low risk dealings must be undertaken, unless regulation 13(2)(c) or 13(3) applies, in facilities certified to at least physical containment level 1 and that are appropriate for the dealings:
(a) a dealing involving a genetically modified laboratory guinea pig, a genetically modified laboratory mouse, a genetically modified laboratory rabbit or a genetically modified laboratory rat, unless—
(i) an advantage is conferred on the animal by the genetic modification; or
(ii) the animal is capable of secreting or producing an infectious agent as a result of the genetic modification;
(c) a dealing involving virions of a replication defective vector derived from Human adenovirus or from Adeno-associated virus, either without a host or with a host mentioned in item 9 of Part 2 of Schedule 2, if the donor nucleic acid—
(i) cannot restore replication competence to the vector; and
(ii) does not confer an oncogenic modification or immunomodulatory effect in humans.
Part 2—Notifiable low risk dealings suitable for at least physical containment level 2 or 3
Note—
Because of regulation 12(1), a dealing mentioned in this Part is not a notifiable low risk dealing if it is also a dealing of a kind mentioned in Part 3 of this Schedule.
2.1—Kinds of dealings suitable for at least physical containment level 2
The following kinds of notifiable low risk dealings must be undertaken, unless regulation 13(2)(c) or 13(3) applies, in facilities certified to at least physical containment level 2 and that are appropriate for the dealings:
(a) a dealing involving whole animals (including non‑vertebrates) that—
(i) involves genetic modification of the genome of the oocyte or zygote or early embryo by any means to produce a novel whole organism; and
(ii) does not involve any of the following:
(A) a genetically modified laboratory guinea pig;
(B) a genetically modified laboratory mouse;
(C) a genetically modified laboratory rabbit;
(D) a genetically modified laboratory rat;
(E) a genetically modified Caenorhabditis elegans;
(aa) a dealing involving a genetically modified laboratory guinea pig, a genetically modified laboratory mouse, a genetically modified laboratory rabbit, a genetically modified laboratory rat or a genetically modified Caenorhabditis elegans, if—
(i) the genetic modification confers an advantage on the animal; and
(ii) the animal is not capable of secreting or producing an infectious agent as a result of the genetic modification;
(b) a dealing involving a genetically modified plant;
(c) a dealing involving a host/vector system not mentioned in clause 1.1(c) of Part 1 of this Schedule or Part 2 of Schedule 2, if neither host nor vector has been implicated in, or has a history of causing, disease in otherwise healthy—
(i) human beings; or
(ii) animals; or
(iii) plants; or
(iv) fungi;
(d) a dealing involving a host/vector system not mentioned in Part 2 of Schedule 2, if—
(i) the host or vector has been implicated in, or has a history of causing, disease in otherwise healthy—
(A) human beings; or
(B) animals; or
(C) plants; or
(D) fungi; and
(ii) the genetic modification is characterised; and
(iii) the characterisation of the genetic modification shows that it is unlikely to increase the capacity of the host or vector to cause harm;
Example—
A genetic modification would not comply with subparagraph (iii) if, in relation to the capacity of the host or vector to cause harm, it—
(a) provides an advantage; or
(b) adds a potential host species or mode of transmission; or
(c) increases its virulence, pathogenicity or transmissibility.
(e) a dealing involving a host/vector system mentioned in Part 2 of Schedule 2, if the donor nucleic acid—
(i) is characterised, and the characterisation shows that it may increase the capacity of the host or vector to cause harm; or
(ii) is uncharacterised nucleic acid from an organism that has been implicated in, or has a history of causing, disease in otherwise healthy—
(A) human beings; or
(B) animals; or
(C) plants; or
(D) fungi;
(f) a dealing involving a host/vector system mentioned in Part 2 of Schedule 2 and producing more than 25 litres of GMO culture in each vessel containing the resultant culture, if—
(i) the dealing is undertaken in a facility that is certified by the Regulator as a large scale facility; and
(ii) the donor nucleic acid satisfies the conditions set out in item 4(2) of Part 1 of Schedule 2;
(g) a dealing involving complementation of knocked‑out genes, if the complementation is unlikely to increase the capacity of the GMO to cause harm compared to the capacity of the parent organism before the genes were knocked out;
Example—
A dealing would not comply with paragraph (g) if it involved complementation that, in relation to the parent organism—
(a) provides an advantage; or
(b) adds a potential host species or mode of transmission; or
(c) increases its virulence, pathogenicity or transmissibility.
(h) a dealing involving shot‑gun cloning, or the preparation of a cDNA library, in a host/vector system mentioned in items 1 to 6 of the table in Part 2 of Schedule 2, if the donor nucleic acid is derived from either—
(i) a pathogen; or
(ii) a toxin‑producing organism;
(i) a dealing involving virions of a replication defective viral vector unable to transduce human cells and a host not mentioned in Part 2 of Schedule 2, if the donor nucleic acid cannot restore replication competence to the vector;
(j) a dealing involving virions of a replication defective non-retroviral vector able to transduce human cells, either without a host or with a host mentioned in Part 2 of Schedule 2, if—
(i) the donor nucleic acid cannot restore replication competence to the vector; and
(ii) the dealing is not a dealing mentioned in paragraph 1.1(c);
(k) a dealing involving virions of a replication defective non‑retroviral vector able to transduce human cells and a host not mentioned in Part 2 of Schedule 2, if—
(i) the donor nucleic acid cannot restore replication competence to the vector; and
(ii) the donor nucleic acid does not confer an oncogenic modification or immunomodulatory effect in humans;
(l) a dealing involving virions of a replication defective retroviral vector able to transduce human cells, either without a host or with a host mentioned in Part 2 of Schedule 2, if—
(i) all viral genes have been removed from the retroviral vector so that it cannot replicate or assemble new virions without these functions being supplied in trans; and
(ii) viral genes needed for virion production in the packaging cell line are expressed from independent, unlinked loci with minimal sequence overlap with the vector to limit or prevent recombination; and
(iii) either—
(A) the retroviral vector includes a deletion in the Long Terminal Repeat sequence of DNA that prevents transcription of genomic RNA following integration into the host cell DNA; or
(B) the packaging cell line and packaging plasmids express only viral genes gagpol, rev and an envelope protein gene, or a subset of these;
(m) a dealing involving virions of a replication defective retroviral vector able to transduce human cells and a host not mentioned in Part 2 of Schedule 2, if—
(i) the donor nucleic acids does not confer an oncogenic modification or immunomodulatory effect in humans; and
(ii) all viral genes have been removed from the retroviral vector so that it cannot replicate or assemble new virions without these functions being supplied in trans; and
(iii) viral genes needed for virion production in the packaging cell line are expressed from independent, unlinked loci with minimal sequence overlap with the vector to limit or prevent recombination; and
(iv) either—
(A) the retroviral vector includes a deletion in the Long Terminal Repeat sequence of DNA that prevents transcription of genomic RNA following integration into the host cell DNA; or
(B) the packaging cell line and packaging plasmids express only viral genes gagpol, rev and an envelope protein gene, or a subset of these.
2.2—Kinds of dealing suitable for at least physical containment level 3
(1) A kind of dealing that—
(a) is a kind mentioned in clause 2.1; and
(b) involves a micro‑organism that satisfies the criteria in AS/NZS 2243.3:2010 for classification as Risk Group 3,
must be undertaken, unless paragraph 13(2)(c) or subregulation 13(3) applies, in facilities certified to at least physical containment level 3 and that are appropriate for the dealings.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), a genetically modified micro‑organism is taken to satisfy the criteria in AS/NZS 2243.3:2010 for classification as Risk Group 3 if the unmodified parent micro‑organism satisfies those criteria.
(3) However, subclause (2) does not apply in relation to a replication defective retroviral vector that meets the criteria in paragraph 2.1(l) or (m).
Part 3—Dealings that are not notifiable low risk dealings
Note 1—
The following list qualifies the list in Part 1 and Part 2, and is not an exhaustive list of dealings that are not notifiable low risk dealings.
Note 2—
If a dealing is not a notifiable low risk dealing, or an exempt dealing, as provided by these Regulations, a person undertaking the dealing must be authorised by a GMO licence unless the dealing is within one of the other exceptions to licensing provided by the Act: see section 32 of the Act.
3.1—Kinds of dealings
(1) A dealing of any of the following kinds, or involving a dealing of the following kinds, is not a notifiable low risk dealing:
(a) a dealing (other than a dealing mentioned in clause 2.1(h) of Part 2 of this Schedule) involving cloning of nucleic acid encoding a toxin having an LD50 of less than 100 micrograms per kilogram;
(b) a dealing involving high level expression of toxin genes, even if the LD50 is 100 micrograms per kilogram or more;
(c) a dealing (other than a dealing mentioned in clause 2.1(h) of Part 2 of this Schedule) involving cloning of uncharacterised nucleic acid from a toxin‑producing organism;
(d) a dealing involving virions of a replication defective viral vector and a host not mentioned in Part 2 of Schedule 2, if—
(i) the donor nucleic acid confers an oncogenic modification or immunomodulatory effect in humans; and
(ii) the dealing is not a dealing mentioned in paragraph 2.1(i);
(e) a dealing involving a replication competent virus or viral vector, other than a vector mentioned in Part 2 of Schedule 2, if the genetic modification confers an oncogenic modification or immunomodulatory effect in humans;
(f) a dealing involving, as host or vector, a micro‑organism, if—
(i) the micro‑organism has been implicated in, or has a history of causing, disease in otherwise healthy—
(A) humans; or
(B) animals; or
(C) plants; or
(D) fungi; and
(ii) none of the following subsubparagraphs apply:
(A) the host/vector system is a system mentioned in Part 2 of Schedule 2;
(B) the genetic modification is characterised and its characterisation shows that it is unlikely to increase the capacity of the host or vector to cause harm;
(C) the dealing is a dealing mentioned in clause 2.1(g) of Part 2 of this Schedule;
Example—
A genetic modification would not comply with subsubparagraph (B) if, in relation to the capacity of the host or vector to cause harm, it—
(a) provides an advantage; or
(b) adds a potential host species or mode of transmission; or
(c) increases its virulence, pathogenicity or transmissibility.
(g) a dealing involving the introduction, into a micro‑organism, of nucleic acid encoding a pathogenic determinant, unless—
(i) the dealing is a dealing mentioned in clause 2.1(g) of Part 2 of this Schedule; or
(ii) the micro‑organism is a host mentioned in Part 2 of Schedule 2;
(h) a dealing involving the introduction into a micro‑organism (other than a host mentioned in Part 2 of Schedule 2) of genes whose expressed products are likely to increase the capacity of the micro‑organisms to induce an autoimmune response;
(i) a dealing involving use of a viral or viroid genome, or fragments of a viral or viroid genome, to produce a novel replication competent virus with an increased capacity to cause harm compared to the capacity of the parent or donor organism;
Example—
A dealing would comply with paragraph (i) if it produces a novel replication competent virus that has a higher capacity to cause harm to any potential host species than the parent organism because the new virus has—
(a) an advantage; or
(b) a new potential host species or mode of transmissibility; or
(c) increased virulence, pathogenicity or transmissibility.
(j) a dealing, other than a dealing mentioned in clause 2.1(l) or (m) of Part 2 of this Schedule, with a replication defective retroviral vector (including a lentiviral vector) able to transduce human cells;
(k) a dealing involving a genetically modified animal, plant or fungus that is capable of secreting or producing infectious agents as a result of the genetic modification;
(l) a dealing producing, in each vessel containing the resultant GMO culture, more than 25 litres of that culture, other than a dealing mentioned in clause 2.1(f) of Part 2 of this Schedule;
(m) a dealing that is inconsistent with a policy principle issued by the Ministerial Council;
(n) a dealing involving the intentional introduction of a GMO into a human being, unless the GMO—
(i) is a human somatic cell; and
(ii) cannot secrete or produce infectious agents as a result of the genetic modification; and
(iii) if it was generated using viral vectors—
(A) has been tested for the presence of viruses likely to recombine with the genetically modified nucleic acid in the somatic cells; and
(B) the testing did not detect a virus mentioned in subsubparagraph (A); and
(C) the viral vector used to generate the GMO as part of a previous dealing is no longer present in the somatic cells;
(o) a dealing involving a genetically modified pathogenic organism, if the practical treatment of any disease or abnormality caused by the organism would be impaired by the genetic modification;
(p) a dealing involving a micro-organism that satisfies the criteria in AS/NZS 2243.3:2010 for classification as Risk Group 4;
(q) a dealing involving a micro-organism that satisfies the criteria in AS/NZS 2243.3:2010 for classification as Risk Group 3 and that is not undertaken—
(i) in a facility that is certified by the Regulator to at least physical containment level 3 and that is appropriate for the dealing; or
(ii) in a facility that the Regulator has agreed in writing is a facility in which the dealing may be undertaken;
(r) a dealing involving a GMO capable of sexual reproduction, the sexual progeny of which are, as a result of the genetic modification, more likely to inherit a particular nucleotide sequence or set of nucleotide sequences (when compared to inheritance from the unmodified parent organism);
(s) a dealing involving a viral vector that can modify an organism capable of sexual reproduction, so that the sexual progeny of the organism are more likely to inherit a particular nucleotide sequence or set of nucleotide sequences (when compared to inheritance from the unmodified parent organism).
Note—
A modification that increases the likelihood of inheritance of a nucleotide sequence or sequences, as described in paragraphs (r) and (s), is generally known as an engineered gene drive.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(p), a genetically modified micro-organism is taken to satisfy the criteria in AS/NZS 2243.3:2010 for classification as Risk Group 4 if the unmodified parent micro-organism satisfies those criteria.
(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(q), a genetically modified micro-organism is taken to satisfy the criteria in AS/NZS 2243.3:2010 for classification as Risk Group 3 if the unmodified parent micro-organism satisfies those criteria.
(4) However, subclause (3) does not apply in relation to a replication defective retroviral vector that meets the criteria in paragraph 2.1(l) or (m).
Legislative history
Notes
• Please note—References in the legislation to other legislation or instruments or to titles of bodies or offices are not automatically updated as part of the program for the revision and publication of legislation and therefore may be obsolete.
• Earlier versions of these regulations (historical versions) are listed at the end of the legislative history.
• For further information relating to the Act and subordinate legislation made under the Act see the Index of South Australian Statutes or www.legislation.sa.gov.au.
Legislation revoked by principal regulations
The Gene Technology Regulations 2017 revoked the following:
Gene Technology Regulations 2002
Principal regulations and variations
New entries appear in bold.
Year
No
Reference
Commencement
2017
196
Gazette 4.7.2017 p2763
1.8.2017: r 2
2019
216
Gazette 3.10.2019 p3399
8.10.2019 except Pt 3—1.7.2020 and except Pt 4—8.10.2020: r 2
2025
81
Gazette 7.8.2025 p3013
7.8.2025: r 2
Provisions varied
New entries appear in bold.
Entries that relate to provisions that have been deleted appear in italics.
Provision
How varied
Commencement
Pt 1
r 2
omitted under Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002
8.10.2019
r 3
characterised
substituted by 216/2019 r 4(1)
8.10.2019
host/vector system
inserted by 216/2019 r 4(2)
8.10.2019
non‑vector system
substituted by 216/2019 r 4(3)
8.10.2019
toxin‑producing organism
varied by 216/2019 r 4(4)
8.10.2019
note
varied by 216/2019 r 4(5)
8.10.2019
r 3B
deleted by 216/2019 r 5
8.10.2019
Pt 2
r 4
varied by 216/2019 r 6
8.10.2019
r 4A
inserted by 216/2019 r 7
8.10.2019
r 5
substituted by 216/2019 r 8
8.10.2019
Pt 3
r 9
varied by 216/2019 r 9
8.10.2019
r 9(1)
r 9 amended and redesignated as r 9(1) by 81/2025 r 3(1), (2)
7.8.2025
r 9(2)
inserted by 81/2025 r 3(2)
7.8.2025
r 11A
r 11A(2)
varied by 216/2019 r 10
8.10.2019
r 12
r 12(1)
varied by 216/2019 r 11
8.10.2019
r 13
r 13(1)
varied by 216/2019 r 12(1)—(4)
8.10.2019
(i) deleted by 216/2019 r 12(5)
8.10.2019
note deleted by 216/2019 r 12(6)
8.10.2019
varied by 216/2019 r 20
1.7.2020
r 13(2)
varied by 216/2019 r 12(7)
8.10.2019
r 13(3)
substituted by 216/2019 r 12(8)
8.10.2019
r 13A
deleted by 216/2019 r 13
8.10.2019
r 13B
varied by 216/2019 r 21(1)—(4)
1.7.2020
r 13C
r 13C(1) and (2)
substituted by 216/2019 r 22(1)
1.7.2020
r 13C(2a) and (2b)
inserted by 216/2019 r 22(1)
1.7.2020
r 13C(3)
varied by 216/2019 r 22(2)
1.7.2020
Pt 7
r 39
substituted by 216/2019 r 23
1.7.2020
Pt 8
inserted by 216/2019 r 14
8.10.2019
rr 42 and 43
inserted by 216/2019 r 24
1.7.2020
Sch 1A
varied by 216/2019 r 15
8.10.2019
amended by 81/2025 r 4(1), (2)
7.8.2025
Sch 1B
inserted by 216/2019 r 16
8.10.2019
Sch 1
varied by 216/2019 r 17
8.10.2019
varied by 216/2019 r 25
8.10.2020
amended by 81/2025 r 5(1)—(3)
7.8.2025
Sch 2
Pts 1 and 2
substituted by 216/2019 r 18
8.10.2019
Sch 3
Pt 1
cl 1.1
varied by 216/2019 r 19(1), (2)
8.10.2019
Pt 2
cl 2.1
varied by 216/2019 r 19(3)—(21)
8.10.2019
cl 2.2
substituted by 216/2019 r 19(22)
8.10.2019
Pt 3
heading
note 2
substituted by 216/2019 r 19(23)
8.10.2019
cl 3.1
cl 3.1(1)
cl 3.1 varied and redesignated as cl 3.1(1) by 216/2019 r 19(24)—(30)
8.10.2019
cl 3.1(2)—(4)
inserted by 216/2019 r 19(30)
8.10.2019
Sch 4
omitted under Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002
8.10.2019
Historical versions
8.10.2019