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.