Regulating genetically modified organisms: A case study assessing regulatory quality and performance

Abstract

This article examines the recent statutory review of the Gene Technology Act 2000 (Cth) (GT Act) and the Gene Technology Agreement as a case study of the analytical approach that might be applied to assessing the quality and performance of regulation. The conclusion is that by failing to apply an analytical approach according to the Australian Government's commitment to the Competition Principles Agreement, or take into account the results of applying that approach in developing and implementing the GT Act, there has been a failure to adequately address both the operation of the GT Act and its ongoing justification as a means of efficiently and effectively regulating genetically modified organisms.