Background

 

Biosafety refers to the need to protect biodiversity as well as human and environmental health from the potential adverse effects of the products of modern biotechnology. In 1992, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) identified biosafety as one of the critical issues the Convention should address. The importance placed on biosafety related issues resulted in the adoption of the Biosafety Protocol to the CBD in 2000 in Montreal.

The Biosafety Protocol provides a regulatory framework for biotechnology products, making it possible to generate the maximum benefit from the potential that biotechnology has to offer, while minimizing the possible risks to human and environmental health. At present, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are in the process of developing or implementing their biosafety frameworks, policies and laws. As these systems are set in place, enhancing institutional capacity is imperative to: (1) carry out scientific risk assessments of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)/living modified organisms (LMOs) and (2) enforce biosafety regulations, requiring monitoring, inspection, and detection capabilities.

According to the CBD, risk assessment involves identification and evaluation of potential adverse effects of living modified organisms on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity in the likely potential receiving environment, taking into account risks to human health. Risk assessment should be carried out in a scientifically sound and transparent manner. It should also take into account expert advice of, and guidelines developed by, relevant organizations.

Because risk assessment should be carried out on a case-by-case basis, it is vital to evaluate such assessment from a specific country perspective and bring it into the regional level. For the ASEAN member countries (AMCs), risk assessment should be undertaken with inputs from ASEAN nationals with appropriate qualification and experiences in relevant fields. With support from its partners, the ASEAN -- through the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) with financial assistance from the European Union, will assist countries to conduct risk assessment with a view to identify needs for risk management and the most appropriate methods to be implemented.

Based on risk assessment findings, relevant regulatory bodies enforce appropriate biosafety regulations. These regulations are keys to ensuring the environmental and human safety of GMOs/LMOs. It gives the public confidence in GMO/LMO products. At present, AMCs are in their infant stages of establishing, enforcing, and monitoring biosafety regulations. These regulations are consistent with the Biosafety Protocol, which sets forth legal requirements for the transboundary movement of GMOs. As a binding international treaty, the provisions of the Biosafety Protocol are very important and influential to the establishment of national and regional biosafety regulatory systems in AMCs.

As AMCs are composed mostly of developing countries with relatively limited scientific and technical staff in conducting risk assessment of GMOs/LMOs and implementing biosafety regulations, it is imperative to hold workshop sessions that will: (1) enhance national and regional capacity to address GMOs/LMOs and biosafety issues and (2) provide opportunities for information exchange within ASEAN. These issues and topics will be addressed in a workshop on “Risk Assessment of GMOs/LMOs and Enforcement of Biosafety Regulations” that will be held in Siem Reap, Cambodia on June 22-24, 2008.