Consultation on cost recovery for gene technology regulator

The Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) is undertaking an assessment and development of a cost recovery model for services provided by the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR), as required under the Australian Government formal cost recovery policy.

The model is to be considered by government in 2014-15, at which time a decision will be made as to whether and how cost recovery is to be implemented. As part of this process, DoHA has engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to undertake an economic analysis of the gene technology sector prior to further consideration of the potential of a cost recovery model. PwC advises that at this stage no decision has been made to introduce cost recovery.

As part of the analysis, PwC is seeking input from sector stakeholders through the stakeholder survey. Click here to access the survey.

The survey comprises 18 short questions, which should take approximately 30 minutes to complete. It is open to all industry participants and focuses on developing an understanding of the sector and its level of maturity. The information collected in this survey will be used in the assessment of a potential cost recovery model.

DoHA is seeking to understand the sector ahead of developing and analysing the potential impact of introducing cost recovery arrangements for the services of the OGTR. There will be further consultation ahead of, and again following, the development of the potential cost recovery model. This will ensure that all stakeholders will get to contribute their comments during the consideration of a potential cost recovery model.

The survey was originally released on 5 August 2013 and due 9 August 2013. After receiving feedback that the time given to stakeholders was insufficient and that several stakeholders did not receive the survey, DoHA has extended the due date for the survey and provided it to an updated mailing list. This was done in order to ensure that the process is as inclusive as possible. The survey will now remain open until 5 pm on 23 August 2013.

The OGTR and DoHA are strongly encouraging all industry participants to respond.

For further information, please contact Paul Cousins, Manager, PwC on +61 (7) 3257 8457 or at paul.cousins@au.pwc.com.