An Introduction to Genetically Modified Organisms

Genetic modification is a technique that enables the transfer of genes between related and unrelated organisms, even across species barriers. Introducing these new combinations produces genetically modified organisms (“GMOs”) with specific purposes (for example, introducing them into existing crop plants might produce insect resistance). The release of GMOs has environmental, social and economic impacts, many of which are unknown as yet, and this has caused community concern.

This fact sheet outlines the Western Australian and Commonwealth regulatory regime which controls the use of genetically modified organisms in Western Australia.