Categorisation of genetically modified products

Who should read this?

Importers and manufacturers of industrial chemicals (and products that are designed to release industrial chemicals) who are working out whether their importation/manufacture (introduction) will be an exempted, reported or assessed introduction. This information should be read before the chemical is introduced in Australia. You must read this in conjunction with our categorisation guide.

What is a genetically modified (GM) product?

Our definition of GM product has the same meaning as in the Gene Technology Act 2000. That is, a GM product is a thing derived or produced from a genetically modified organism (GMO), other than a GMO itself.

Introductions of an industrial chemical that is a GM product are referred to as a ‘specified class of introduction’.

We have an increased level of concern due to a greater potential for particular hazards or high levels of human or environmental exposure. For GM products, there is potential for adverse effects from exposure to GM products, depending on the nature of the genetic modification. 

Is this introduction listed, exempted, reported or assessed?

There are different criteria for each category and you must work out which one applies to your introduction by going through our categorisation guide, starting at 'Step 0: introductions that are in the listed category'. If your introduction does not meet the criteria for the listed, exempted or reported categories, it will be an assessed introduction (unless you meet the criteria for a commercial evaluation authorisation.

There are no additional or different requirements to be aware of when working out your category of introduction, due to your chemical being a GM product.

If your introduction is categorised as assessed, when submitting your application for an assessment certificate, you need to:

• identify that your introduction is a specified class of introduction
• provide any additional information that is required based on your chemical being a GM product.

If your introduction is categorised as reported, when submitting your pre-introduction report, you need to identify that your introduction is a specified class of introduction and select that “it is a genetically modified product”.

If your introduction is categorised as exempted, because you worked out that the highest indicative risk for your introduction is very low risk, you need to keep a record that your introduction is a specified class of introduction, i.e. that “it is a genetically modified product”.

Additional record keeping obligations for exempted and reported introductions

If your introduction is of a chemical that is a GM product, and:

• you worked out your introduction category as exempted or reported by following steps 4-6 of our categorisation steps, and
• your introduction is not internationally-assessed for human health and the environment,

then, you must keep the following records:

• the name of the GMO that the GM product is derived or produced from
• information on any GMO that remains in the GM product as an impurity.

For record keeping requirements that apply to your chemical introduction see our guidance on reporting and record keeping obligations.