We are seeking public comment by 29 January 2021 on the draft SDN-1 Modified Organisms Regulations:
Draft Biosecurity (SDN-1 Modified Organsims) Regulations 2020 (140Kb)
SDN-1 Fact Sheet (326Kb)
Overview
Organisms modified using the gene editing technique known as SDN-1 are no longer regulated as genetically modified organisms (GMOs) under the National Gene Technology Scheme. This may create issues for businesses that export to markets where SDN-1 modified organisms continue to be considered GMOs.
To address any potential marketing concerns, the Tasmanian Government has developed regulations to control the commercial release of SDN-1 modified organisms into the Tasmanian environment.
This will ensure that, in Tasmania, these organisms are effectively regulated the same as GMOs in the agri-food sector for marketing purposes, as outlined in the
Tasmanian Gene Technology Policy 2019-2029.
The Biosecurity (SDN-1 Modified Organism) Regulations 2020 will regulate the entry of SDN-1 modified organisms to Tasmania and any activities with organisms modified using SDN-1 techniques.
This will maintain the status quo for businesses that rely on Tasmania’s GMO-free status and ensure that Tasmania continues to be able to confidently trade as GMO-free in markets that are sensitive to SDN-1 modified organisms.
How to make a submission
All comments on the draft regulations must be in writing and received by 29 January 2021.
Email submissions to:
sdn1regulations@dpipwe.tas.gov.au Or Post submissions to:
Agriculture and Water Division
Accessibility of submissions
The Government recognises that not all individuals or groups are equally placed to access and understand information. We are committed to ensuring government information is accessible and easily understood by people with diverse communication needs.
Important information
Your name (or the name of the organisation) may be published unless you request otherwise. No private information will be published. In the absence of a clear indication that a submission is intended to be treated as confidential, the Department will treat the submission as public. If you would like your submission treated as confidential, whether in whole or in part, please indicate this in writing at the time of making your submission clearly identifying the parts of your submission you want to remain confidential and the reasons why. In this case, your submission will not be published to the extent of that request. Copyright in submissions remains with the author(s), not with the Tasmanian Government.
The Department will not publish, in whole or in part, submissions containing defamatory or offensive material. If your submission includes information that could enable the identification of other individuals, then either all or parts of the submission will not be published.
The Right to Information Act 2009 and confidentiality
By law, information provided to the Government may be provided to an applicant under the provisions of the Right to Information Act 2009 (RTI). If you have indicated that you wish all or part of your submission to be confidential, the statement that details your reasons will be taken into account in determining whether or not to release the information in the event of an RTI application for assessed disclosure.