Gene patent inquiry delayed

The Senate Inquiry into Gene Patents, which was due to report last week, has now had its reporting date extended by the Senate.

It was originally to report on 26 November 2009, and is now set to report its findings to the Senate on 18 March 2010.

According to a statement on the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs website, this was due to "the extensive evidence received and the complex nature of many issues associated with this inquiry.

"While the Committee has had some discussion over the conclusions and recommendations that it may reach in its report to the Senate, it requires further time to give more detailed consideration to the complex issues involved and to assess the range of opinions that were expressed in evidence during the inquiry."

The Inquiry is considering the "impact of the granting of patents in Australia over human and microbial genes and non-coding sequences, proteins, and their derivatives, including those materials in an isolated form."

The Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs received 72 submissions from scientists, research institutes, patent attorneys and members of the public.

The Committee was due to report on whether the existing patent laws covering genes should be revised to either prohibit the patenting of genes or to provide exemptions for the purposes of research.

Some industry groups are concerned that patenting genes will restrict access to potentially life saving diagnostics or treatments, while others claim that changes to the gene patent laws could radically impact the Australian biotechnology industry.