Any significant breaches of its guidelines are reported by GMAC to the Minister and tabled in Parliament in its Annual Report. Although these guidelines are non-statutory, some sanctions could be imposed if a researcher refused to abide by GMAC advice. For example, contractual agreements which must be entered into for receipt of Commonwealth funding for research and development usually contain a requirement to comply with GMAC Guidelines. Products regulated by AQIS include animals and animal products, plants and plant products and biological products containing or derived from microorganisms, animal, human or plant material. This process considers the pests and diseases of quarantine concern that may be associated with an imported product.
Risk analyses are to be based on scientific principles and be supported by scientific evidence.
In some cases, genetically manipulated traits could confer pest or disease risks to a product, in particular weed risks from GMO plants, that are not associated with the non-transgenic product from which it is derived. If an analysis of a genetically manipulated product does not identify pest and disease concerns associated with the genetic engineering, AQIS will subject the GMO to the same import conditions as the parent material from which it is derived. In relation to imported foods, an import application form must be completed for proposed importations of genetically manipulated material in the first instance. Import application forms have a provision for notifying AQIS if imported material has been genetically manipulated. Go to top of page 7.