Gene Technology Ministers' Meeting

The Gene Technology Ministers' Meeting (GTMM) is comprised of ministers responsible for gene technology from each jurisdiction, being the Commonwealth, the States and Territories, nominated by their Head of Government. The GTMM, previously known as the Gene Technology Legislative and Governance Forum or the Ministerial Council, is established by the Gene Technology Act 2000, under the intergovernmental Gene Technology Agreement 2001 (the Agreement). The GTMM's functions are to: a. issue policy principles, policy guidelines, and codes of practice to govern the activities of the Gene Technology Regulator (the Regulator), and the operation of the National Gene Technology Regulatory Scheme; (the "Scheme" refers to the national legislative scheme to protect the health and safety of people, to protect the environment by identifying risks posed by, or as a result of, gene technology, and by managing those risks through regulating certain dealings with genetically modified organisms); b. approve proposed legislation for the purpose of the Scheme; c. approve by special majority any extension of an emergency dealing determination; d. approve the appointment (and, if necessary, the dismissal) of the Regulator, and of the chairpersons of the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee (GTTAC), and the Gene Technology Ethics and Community Consultative Committee (GTECCC), and advise the responsible Commonwealth Minister on the appointment of the members of those bodies; e. ensure coordination with other forums on matters relating to gene technology and, in particular, harmonisation of regulatory processes relating to GM products; f. oversee, generally, the implementation of the Scheme; g. consider/agree on proposed changes to the Scheme; h. initiate a review of the Scheme in accordance with the specifications of the Gene Technology Agreement.; and i. perform any other function conferred on the GTMM by the Gene Technology Agreement.