Further Enquiries:

Research Branch
THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE
SA 5005
AUSTRALIA
Research Branch Email

Telephone: +61 8 8313 5137
Facsimile: +61 8 8313 3700

ORECI Facsimile:
+61 8 8313 7325
ORECI Email

Transport of GMOs

All GMOs must be transported in accordance with the guidelines for transport of GMOs as current at the time of transport.

Investigators should ensure that all proposed transport, including sending/receiving of GMOs with other organisations in Australia or overseas, is included in their authorised dealing. Approval can be gained for additional/new transport requirements by seeking an amendment to your approval.

The current version (effective 1 September 2011): Guidelines for the Transport, Storage and Disposal of GMOs. (Version 1.1 - 2 June 2011)

Transport definition

'Transport' is not defined in the GT Act and takes its ordinary meaning. Within the OGTR Guidelines, it is taken to mean 'to carry or convey from one place to another' and includes all movements of a GMO from an authorised physical containment facility to any location outside the authorised physical containment facility. For example:

movement of GMOs between one authorised physical containment facility and another;
movement of GMOs between one authorised physical containment facility and storage outside of an authorised physical containment facility;
movement of GMOs between a place of storage outside of an authorised physical containment facility to another place of storage outside of an authorised physical containment facility;
movement of GMOs between any points specified in a licence;
movement of GMOs from any point specified in a licence to an authorised physical containment facility;
movement of GMOs from an authorised physical containment facility, or from storage outside of an authorised physical containment facility, to a place where the GMOs are to be decontaminated or disposed of (e.g. to an autoclave or incinerator);
movement of GMOs imported into Australia from the Australian border to:
- an authorised physical containment facility;
- storage outside of an authorised physical containment facility;
- or a point of export from Australia or to a place where the GMOs are to be decontaminated or disposed of;
movement of GMOs to be exported from Australia, to the Australian border from an authorised physical containment facility or from storage outside of an authorised physical containment facility;
movement of liquid waste containing GMOs via piping or tubing from an authorised physical containment facility to a place outside the boundary of the facility for further transport, storage, decontamination or disposal.

The Guidelines do not apply to transport:

from a place in an authorised physical containment facility to another place entirely within the same facility (for example, from one side of a PC2 laboratory to the other);or
from a place in a location specified in a licence to another place within the same specific location (for example, from one part of a field trial site to another part of the same site).