Biosafety

The University's Hazardous Substance Safety Advisor is Roland Helfer.

Welcome to 'Biosafety at UNE'. These pages provide information and forms necessary for all staff, students, visitors and volunteers at UNE who wish to work with pathogens, genetically modified organisms or who need to work in a Physical Containment laboratory, PC2 (even if you are not working with a pathogen or genetically modified organisms (GMO)).

Please read these pages carefully if you are planning to work with GMOs.

Working with Genetically Modified Organisms

Work with GMOs is regulated by the Gene Technology Act 2000 with the latest Amendments to the Act and Regulations commencing on 11 March 2016. The objective of the Act is to protect the health and safety of people and the environment by identifying risks posed by, or as a result of, gene technology and by managing those risks through regulating dealings and activities with genetically modified organisms (GMOs). All work with GMOs must be compliant with this legislation.

Click here for access to the Act and Regulations.

Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR)

The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) is located within the Australian Government Department of Health to provide administrative support to the Gene Technology Regulator. The OGTR has legislative power to enforce requirements where work involving certain dealings with gene technology is being undertaken. For further details regarding the OGTR please refer to the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator website.

What is a Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)?

a) an organism that has been modified by gene technology; or
b) 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; or
c) anything declared by the regulations to be a genetically modified organism or that belongs to a class of things declared by the regulations to be genetically modified organisms.

Other Helpful Topics