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The Gene Technology Ethics and Community Consultative Committee (GTECCC)

The function of GTECCC is to provide advice on the request of the Gene Technology Regulator (the Regulator) or the The Gene Technology Ministerial Council (GTMC) on a number of matters, including:

ethical issues relating to gene technology;
the need for policy principles, policy guidelines, codes of practice and technical and procedural guidelines in relation to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and genetically modified (GM) products, and the content of such principles, guidelines and codes;
community consultation in respect of the process for applications for licences covering dealings that involve the intentional release of a GMO into the environment;
risk communication matters in relation to dealings that involve the intentional release of a GMO into the environment; and
matters of general concern in relation to GMOs or matters identified by the Regulator in relation to applications made under the Gene Technology Act 2000 (the Act)

GTECCC comprises 11 members appointed by the Hon Catherine King, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, following consultation with the Regulator, State/Territory Ministers and relevant scientific, consumer, health, environmental and industry organisations.

Members include experts in relevant fields including community consultation, risk communication, ethics, law and environmental issues. GTECCC also includes a person who is a member of the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee (GTTAC) and a person who is a member of the Australian Health Ethics Committee. GTECCC members (PDF 113 KB).

Members of GTECCC are subject to strict disclosure of interest provisions which are contained in the Gene Technology Regulations 2001 (the Regulations). The Regulations also describe the way in which matters are to be resolved by the Committee, reporting requirements, and procedures for convening meetings of the Committee.Top of page

Background and establishment of GTECCC

The Gene Technology Ethics and Community Consultative Committee was created following amendments to the Act in June 2007. The Gene Technology Amendment Act 2007 implemented the recommendations of the Statutory Review of the Act and the Gene Technology Agreement 2001 (the Review), conducted in 2005/06.

The Review found that there had been considerable overlap between the roles of GTCCC and GTEC, and recommended that they be combined into one advisory committee, with the combined functions of the two former committees.

Further information about the Review is available from the GTMC website.

GTECCC commenced on 1 January 2008 and replaced the former Gene Technology Community Consultative Committee (GTCCC) and the Gene Technology Ethics Committee (GTEC).

GTECCC Communiques
GTECCC Publications