Standing Committee on Primary Industries and Regional Services

Inquiry into primary producer access to gene technology

Terms of reference

On 30 March 1999 the Minister asked the committee to inquire into and report on the following areas, with particular emphasis on the capacity of small and medium sized enterprises to access the benefits of gene technology:

• the future value and importance of genetically modified varieties;

• the ability for producers to compete using traditionally available varieties;

• the commercialisation and marketing of agricultural and livestock production varieties;

• the cost to producers of new varieties;

• other impediments to the utilisation of new varieties by small producers;

• assistance to small producers to develop new varieties and the protection of the rights of independent breeders, in relation to genetically modified organisms;

• the appropriateness of current variety protection rights, administrative arrangements and legislation, in relation to genetically modified organisms; and

• opportunities to educate the community of the benefits of gene technology.

Further information about the inquiry can be obtained from the committee secretariat.

Membership of the Committee

Committee Secretary
Standing Committee on Primary Industries and Regional Services
House of Representatives
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
AUSTRALIA

Phone:  61 2 6277 4500
Fax:       61 2 6277 4424
email:   Aff.Reps@aph.gov.au

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