Overview
The National Health and Medical Research Council Regulations 2026 came into force on 10 August 2026. The new regulations replace the National Health and Medical Research Council Regulation 2016, which has been formally repealed. The regulations are administered by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
What the regulations cover
The regulations set out rules for consultation processes related to regulatory recommendations and guidelines issued by the NHMRC. Specifically, the rules address:
- What information the NHMRC is required to include in consultation notices
- Circumstances in which consultation can be skipped
Transitional provisions
The 2026 regulations include transitional provisions. These provisions allow certain things done under the 2016 regulation to continue to have effect under the new framework.
Key actions
- Businesses that respond to NHMRC consultation processes can check the updated notice requirements at https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2026L01040 to confirm submissions meet the new format rules.
- The National Health and Medical Research Council Regulation 2016 has been formally repealed. Internal policies or compliance documents that reference the 2016 regulation are required to be updated to reference the 2026 version.
This is a plain-English summary for information only, not legal or compliance advice. Always check the official source or consult a qualified professional.