ASEAN Activities Related to Biosafety Capacity Building

ASEAN Member Country contributions

The ASEAN has undertaken a number of initiatives to ensure the safe transboundary movement and use of agriculture-related GMOs in its member countries. The Strategic Plan of Action on ASEAN Cooperation in Food, Agriculture and Forestry 1999-2004 (see http://www.aseansec.org/6218.htm), in particular, includes a number of activities relevant to biosafety, such as Activity 2.1.2: "Intensification of cooperation in production and processing technology development and transfer and enhancement of harmonization and adoption of quality standards for products through, among others, harmonization of regulations for agricultural products derived from biotechnology.

The 21st Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers for Agriculture and Forestry held on 28-29 October 1999 in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam endorsed the ASEAN Guidelines on the Release of Agriculture-Related GMOs (see http://www.aseansec.org/6226.htm). The guidelines provide a common framework for: (a) assessment of risks of agriculture-related GMOs to human health and the environment; and (b) approval mechanisms for their release in ASEAN member countries.

ASEAN has also established mechanisms, such as the ASEAN Task Force on Codex to develop and coordinate common ASEAN positions, strengthen cooperation and promote joint approaches in addressing international and regional issues relevant to biosafety.

Furthermore, the Sub-Committee on Biotechnology implements project proposals to enhance cooperation in biotechnology in ASEAN, some of which are relevant to capacity building for biosafety. Some of the relevant projects and seminars implemented or planned by the Committee include: (1) the SEAN-Conference on Biotechnology and Biodiversity, Bangkok, 28-29 August 1995, Thailand and (2) the Technical Conference on Biotechnology for Development of an Ecological and Sustainable Agriculture; 12-14 October 1998; Hanoi, Vietnam.

National level activities
*Development of national biosafety frameworks

*Human-resources development

*Public awareness, education and participation

*Risk assessment

Regional level activities
- Coordination and harmonization of regulatory frameworks, e.g. the ASEAN Guidelines on the Risk Assessment and Release of Agriculture-Related Genetically Modified Organisms;

- Regional collaborative initiatives and training workshops, such as the ASEAN Regional Workshop on Biosafety of GMOs held 24-26 April 2000 in Kuala Lumpur and the ASEAN workshop on National Biosafety Frameworks (NBFs): Regional Cooperation and Information Sharing, held 14-15 June 2004 in Manila.

-  Training workshops on the safety and risk assessment of agriculture-related GMOs held in July 2001 (Singapore), August 2002 (Kuala Lumpur), August 2003 (Bangkok) and September 2004 (Jarkata).

- The ASEAN Working Group on Nature Conservation and Biodiversity (AWGNCB) and the ASEAN Regional Center for Biodiversity Conservation (ARCBC) are carrying out a number of biosafety-related activities, including: facilitating a common voice for ASEAN on biosafety, developing a common strategy on biosafety, and information sharing on biosafety related issues through the ARCBC website. The AWGNCB is also exploring the possibility of developing a regional biosafety Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH) while the national nodes of the BCH are being set up by the member countries.

Goals
*To promote harmonization of national guidelines and regulations on the use of biotechnology derived products among ASEAN member countries.

*To build the capacity of ASEAN Member Countries in risk assessment and management of GMOs and other related technical issues such as the issue of substantial equivalence and of labeling.

*To develop and coordinate common positions, strengthen ASEAN cooperation and promote joint approaches in addressing various international and regional issues relevant to biosafety.

Objectives
To ensure the safe transboundary movement and use of agriculture-related genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in ASEAN member countries.

Main outcomes
1) ASEAN Guidelines on the Risk Assessment and Release of Agriculture-Related Genetically Modified Organisms were endorsed by the 21st Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers for Agriculture and Forestry held on 28-29 October 1999 in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. The Guidelines are available at: http://www.aseansec.org/6226.htm

2) A set of frequently asked questions and answers on GMOs has been compiled and posted on the ASEAN Secretariat's website at: http://www.aseansec.org/6230.htm

3) An ASEAN Regional Workshop on Biosafety of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) was held 24-26 April 2000 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

4) Four ASEAN-ILSI training workshops on the safety and risk assessment of agriculture-related GMOs were conducted in July 2001 (Singapore), August 2002 (Kuala Lumpur), August 2003 (Bangkok) and September 2004 (Jarkata). The reports of these workshops are available for download, in Pdf format, at: http://www.aseansec.org/4921.htm.

5)  An ASEAN Genetically Modified Food Testing Network was established in 2004 to assist ASEAN Member Countries better utilise  existing national resources  on genetic modification and food safety and gain better access to information on developing GM testing capabilities for food. A Taskforce was also established to steer the network, synergize efforts in GMO training programmes and establish networking links with external agencies that also conduct capacity-building activities in biosafety.

6) A Workshop on ASEAN and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety: National Biosafety Frameworks (NBFs), Regional Cooperation and Information Sharing, was held 14-15 June 2004 in Manila, The Philippines.

Other collaborating organizations
National biotechnology regulatory agencies of the ASEAN  Member Countries*

*Member countries are listed below under 'Specific countries where the project is implemented'.