The government is now operating in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions, pending the outcome of the 2025 federal election.

Ongoing regulatory compliance

Requesting changes to organisation accreditation​

The Gene Technology Act 2000 allows for accreditations to adjust to changing circumstances. Find out about varying, suspending and surrendering accreditation.

Requesting a change to accreditation

An organisation can request a variation, surrender or suspension of accreditation.

Changes to IBCs accessed

If an organisation changes the IBC the organisation is accessing, or will be accessing a new IBC, this needs to be reported to the OGTR within 30 days of the change.

To report changes please contact ogtr.applications@health.gov.au.

Surrender of accreditation

An organisation may request a surrender of accreditation if, for example, it no longer undertakes licenced work with genetically modified organisms (GMOs). If an organisation holds any licences they must be transferred to another organisation or surrendered before requesting to surrender the accreditation.

When applying for a surrender of accreditation, remember that:

  • The request to the Gene Technology Regulator (the Regulator) must be made by a person authorised by their organisation to do so. If the person submitting the request is not known to the OGTR as a person authorised for this purpose, they must state that they are authorised to submit the request.
  • Any Notifiable Low Risk Dealings (NLRDs) that have been assessed, but not yet reported by the accredited organisation, should be reported to the Regulator prior to submitting a surrender request.
  • If an organisation intends to continue working on any NLRDs they must be conducted in a facility certified to the appropriate level by the Regulator.
  • The conditions of accreditation continue to apply until written confirmation is received from the Regulator that the surrender is complete.
  • If the organisation has established an Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), they should:
    • advise the OGTR of the ongoing status of the IBC
    • ensure the IBC has assessed any proposals for NLRDs prior to the organisation submitting a surrender request
    • ensure any organisations accessing that IBC have been informed of the organisation’s intention to surrender

An organisation can request a surrender by emailing ogtr.applications@health.gov.au

Suspension of accreditation

An organisation can request a suspension of accreditation. The Regulator can also suspend an accreditation if an organisation breaches the conditions of accreditation.

The Regulator will give the organisation written notice of any decision on suspension.

Suspension will have implications for any licences which have ongoing accreditation as a condition.

Accredited organisation name change

If an organisation changes its name, they must tell us and request a change to the accreditation to reflect the new name. 

Accreditation cannot be transferred between organisations. Instead, the current organisation should surrender their accreditation and the new organisation should apply to the Regulator for its own accreditation.

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