Grain Trade Australia (GTA) welcomes the Tasmanian Government’s move to align its gene technology approach with Australia’s National Scheme, following GTA’s submission on proposed amendments to the Gene Technology Regulations 2001. This is an important step toward national consistency for gene-edited crops.
Through its Grain Industry Stewardship Framework for New Technologies, GTA has long advocated for modern, science-based regulation that supports innovation while maintaining market confidence.
The decision follows the 2025 GMO Environmental Scan Consultation Report by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas), which found broad support for recognising site-directed nuclease-1 (SDN-1) gene editing in line with national regulations.
Under the updated policy, organisms developed using SDN-1 techniques that do not introduce foreign DNA will be treated consistently with the rest of Australia. This reduces regulatory complexity, improves clarity for industry, and aligns Tasmania with key trading partners.
Tasmania’s GMO moratorium remains in place until 2029. SDN-1 organisms are not classified as GMOs under Australian law, allowing the state to maintain its GMO-free status while still enabling access to innovation.
While GTA welcomes this reform, continued advocacy is needed on domestic and global fronts to support seed innovation. GTA has engaged in consultation on the Gene Technology Act, where reforms have been delayed for several years. The latest proposals help modernise the Act, but some elements may limit trade-facilitative outcomes for gene-editing technologies. GTA continues to work with regulators to ensure Australia’s approach remains agile and supportive of innovation.
A key risk for grain trade is the lack of alignment in regulatory approaches, which can create non-tariff barriers. GTA and the International Grain Trade Coalition (IGTC) are advocating globally for practical, trade-friendly regulatory approaches that recognise differences between gene-edited and traditional biotech products.
GTA is engaging with the Australian grain supply chain and markets to ensure new seed technologies can be integrated in ways that support market choice and do not disrupt trade.
