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Sharing experiences on implementing biotechnology and biosafety policies and regulations

The overall purpose of the ADB TA-6214-REG is to strengthen capacity and regional cooperation for biotechnology, biosafety and related food safety in GMS countries, thereby contributing to sustainable agricultural growth in the region. As part of its regional activities, and in response to country demands, the TA is organizing an international forum on “Sharing experiences on implementing biotechnology and biosafety policies and regulations”. One of the priorities for the GMS countries in implementing their biotechnology and biosafety policies and regulations is learning from the experiences of other countries, particularly in the area of regional cooperation.

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The aims of this proposed forum, to be held under the auspices of the ADB project, in conjunction with the governments of participating countries, are to:

• Share experiences of various countries, from Asia as well as other parts of the world that have a track record of implementing their biotechnology and biosafety policies and regulations.
• Enable participants to learn from the specific experiences of these countries in dealing with issues such as environmental risk assessment, food safety, risk communication, public participation, etc in implementing their regulations and policies.
• Share experiences on complying with relevant international instruments, such as the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the SPS Agreement under the WTO, and relevant regional agreements, in implementing their biotechnology and biosafety policies and regulations.
• Share the experiences of GMS countries in developing and implementing (where applicable) their biotechnology and biosafety policies and regulations.

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• An improved understanding amongst participants from GMS countries about how countries in other parts of Asia and in other countries implement their biotechnology and biosafety policies and regulations
• An improved understanding amongst participants from GMS countries about how other countries deal with specific technical issues on biotechnology and biosafety
• An improved understanding amongst participants from GMS countries about how other countries comply with meeting obligations under international instruments in implementing their policies

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The following countries from the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), participating in the ADB project, will take part in the forum: Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam, and Yunnan Province of the People's Republic of China.

Participants from each country will be policy implementers at the senior management level, as well as senior scientists and researchers involved in biotechnology and biosafety policy formulation and implementation.

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• Alejandra Sarquis, Regional Specialist (Biotechnology ), Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA)
• Craig Cormick, Manager, Public Awareness, Biotechnology Australia
• Desmond Mahon, National focal point, Cartagena protocol, Environment Canada
• Digby Gascoine, Specialist on SPS Agreement, Australia
• Helmut Gaugitsch, Austrian Federal Environment Agency, Austria, and former chair of Aarhus Convention working group on Biotechnology
• Linda Graf, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)
• Patrick Deboyser, Regional Food Safety Specialist, EC Delegation, Bangkok
• Ranjini Warrier, Ministry of Environment, India
• Subhash Gupta, Senior Biotechnologist, International Policy, Communications and Capacity Building, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, USDA-APHIS
• Veit Koester, Chair of Compliance Committee of CPB
• A representative from Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China

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