Biosafety Clearing-House News
Los días 1 y 2 de febrero de 2012, en la Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, se viene realizando el Primer Taller Nacional del Proyecto BCH II, con la participación de miembros del Grupo Técnico de Bioseguridad y algunos expertos invitados. Esta es una actividad de capacitación para el uso eficiente y óptimo del CIISB y las múltiples herramientas de entrenamiento e información que brinda a los involucrados en la regulación de la biotecnología moderna. More...
The BCH - II Second Training Workshop in Moldova was organized in Chisinau, Moldova from 24-27 January 2012. The workshop was organized by the Ministry of Environment of Moldova in partnership with the UNEP-GEF BCH II Project. The training workshop was supported by BCH Regional adviser - Dr.Aleksej Tarasjev. More...
The second National Workshop on the BCH for Swaziland is taking place at the University of Swaziland at the Agricultural Faculty. Swaziland is being assisted by UNEP Regional Advisor Dr. Ossama AbdelKawy. This workshop has attracted stakeholders form the academia, private sector and government officers involved with biotech and biosafety issues. The academia and research perssonel has expressed appreciation on the training which has exposed them to the wealth of information available on the BCH as well as to learn how they can assist government in registering information their institutions have on Biosafety. The workshop will conclude by looking at how biosafety issues can be incorporated into the curriculum of the tertiary instutions. The workshop took place on the 24th to 26th of January 2012.
Biosafety in non-human gene technology
Results of the research programme 2004–2008
The research programme presented here deals with the detection of possible negative effects on the environment that could be caused by genetically modified organisms (GMO), crops in particular. The goal is to provide authorities with the scientific basis to evaluate risks and for the decision-making process. Research focus was set around four topics with a total of eight projects covering aspects that so far were not or were insufficiently investigated. The study shows how a post market monitoring (PMM) has to be set up and what operating expenses it would cause. It also shows the limits of PMM and proposes alternatives. Ethical considerations for evaluating risks are outlined and discussed. More...
With a policy paper the National Environment Agencies in Austria, Switzerland and Germany jointly provide substantial input into this discussion and outline necessary elements and requirements for an appropriate GMO monitoring.
The recommendations are based upon the expertise of the Agencies as competent authorities with regard to GMO monitoring and their general expertise in environmental monitoring, environmental protection, nature conservation. The recommendations consider interrelated issues of environmental protection/nature conservation, which are of importance for an appropriate environmental monitoring of GMOs. More...
Créée en 1959, la Commission des forêts et de la faune sauvage pour l'Afrique est l'une des six commissions régionales des forêts établies par la FAO dans le but de fournir un forum politique et technique aux pays afin de traiter les questions relatives aux forêts et à la faune sauvage à l'échelle régionale.
L'objectif de la semaine africaine des forêts et de la faune sauvage est d'attirer l'attention des décideurs sur l'importance de la contribution des forêts et de la faune sauvage de l'Afrique et leur contribution au développement économique et social du continent. More...
We are pleased to announce that, as of 13 January 2012, the Secretariat has received submissions of Second National Reports on the Implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety from 143 countries (89% of Parties to the Protocol). The submissions received are regionally distributed as follows: Africa: 49 reports (100% of the Parties in the region), Asia-Pacific: 35 reports (85%), CEE: 19 reports (86%), GRULAC: 21 reports (75%) and WEOG: 19 reports (90%).
The reports are available through the ‘Finding Information’ section of the BCH under the ‘National Reports’ header (at http://bch.cbd.int/database/reports/ ). This new page contains a function that allows for detailed analysis of the reports. Please visit this page to gain insight into the progress being made by Parties in the implementation of the Protocol. Parties who have not yet reported are strongly urged to do so. References to the relevant notifications as well as links to the offline and online formats of the report are available at http://bch.cbd.int/protocol/cpb_natreports.shtml
The Training-Workshop on the Access and Use of Biotechnology and Biosafety Information Resources for Integration into Academic Curricula was held at Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba last December 2, 2011. The program started with the doxology, invocation, Philippine National Anthem and introduction of workshop facilitators, resource persons and participants. Dr. Ma. Rhodora G. Odejar, Vice-President for Academics and Research of the Colegio gave the welcome message. The workshop participants gave their expectations of the training. The following are some of the expectations; (1) Understand and to have a clear overview of what Biosafety Clearing House; (2) To determine and be updated about new innovations in biotechnology, scientific techniques, biosafety rules and share this with students; (3) How the BCH Project help the Letran community in promoting regional and sub-regional collaboration within its field; (4) To gain knowledge on recent trends on Biosafety and biotechnology and how it can be used for future projects in Letran; (5) Access and use of biotechnology and Biosafety information resources for integration into community extension programs and services.
Dr. Ruel V. Maningas, Dean of the Graduate School Professional Services and Biosafety Clearing House on-call Regional Advisor, United Nations Environment Programme-Division of Environmental Laws and Conventions-Global Environment Facility Biosafety Clearing House II (UNEP-DELC-GEF-BCH II) Project, gave the workshop introduction and objectives. He also presented and discussed the Overview of National Biosafety Framework (NBF), Status of Country Compliance to Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CBD) and BCH Philippines Project Updates. After this, the overview of CPB and BCH was given to the participants by means of the Interactive Modules. The participants learned the CPB and BCH via case studies as well as quizzes which are integrated in the modules. The discussion and open forum immediately followed.
In the afternoon session, there was the presentation and demonstration on finding and accessing information on Biotechnology & Biosafety from the BCH. Case studies and hands-on exercises were give to the participants to familiarize themselves with the BCH portal. Brainstorming session on strategies to incorporate BCH information resources into academic curricula was conducted. The following are some of the projects, plans, strategies, mechanisms given by the participants: (1) Strategies: Classroom-based- lecture, seminar/workshop with speaker; (2) Mechanism- should be part of the syllabus, access on-line information; (3) Output-comparative research, eg. Project-application: Comparative farming- organic farming vs. biotech farming; (4) Panel Discussion (inviting resource speaker) pros and cons of using biotech products; (5) Group research (latest innovation, uses of new products of biotechnology).
The seminar workshop ended with the closing ceremonies. The impression from the participants and distribution of certificate of attendance were accomplished. Prof. Doris F. Bayugo, Dean of the School of Education, Arts, and Sciences delivered her closing message. She encouraged each participant to continue their enthusiasm, participation and work in this kind of training-workshop.
Après la fête patronnale célébrée le 30 novembre 2011 sous le Haut Patronnage du Ministre de l'Environnement, de l'Habitat et de l'Urbanisme, les agents forestiers du Bénin se réuniront les 12 et 13 janvier 2012 pour leur troisième Congrès. Le Saint Patron des Forestiers est Saint Hubert. More...
A la suite des premier et deuxième ateliers nationaux organisés dans le cadre de la mise en oeuvre du projet PNUE-FEM pour le renforcement des capacités pour l'utilisation du Centre d'échange sur la prévention des risques biotechnologiques, le troisième atelier marquera la fin des activités dudit projet. Il sera assuré par des acteurs locaux: le Pr AHANHANZO Corneille et le Point Focal National du Centre d'échange le Lieutenant-Colonel KAKPO Comlan Marcel. More...
The BCH workshop training for the island of Vava'u was held from 12th - 13th of December, 2011. The main objective of this workshop is to build the capacity of the government officals from relevant Ministry about the Biosafety Clearing House.
Dans le cadre du programme de renforcement des capacités en matière de biosécurité des Etats membres de l'UEMOA, un atelier de formation s'est tenu du 02 au 10 décembre 2011 au centre Gaston MURAZ de Bobo-Dioulasso au Burkina-Faso. Il a été organisé par la Commission de l'UEMOA/Programme Régional de Biosécurité de l'UEMOA et a connu la participation d'une soixantaine de participants.
Objectif global :
Former des acteurs en contrôle et inspection, documentation, étiquetage, traçabilité, échantillonnage et réglementation.
Objectifs spécifiques :
- former les acteurs de la biosécurité à la réglementation dans le domaine de la biosécurité,
- former les acteurs de la biosécurité à la documentation, étiquetage et traçabilité,
- former les acteurs de biosécurité au contrôle et inspection en matière de biosécurité. More...
The draft Egyptian National risk assessment/risk management methodology/protocol for GMOs falling under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety has been posted on the National web site.
The Second Regular National Report on implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety has been submitted by Egypt and posted on the BCH as well as the national web sites.
National specifications for traceability of GMO food and feed to be placed on the market have been proposed by the Egyptian General Organization for Specifications and Quality. The text of the specification (law) in Arabic is available on the National site of the agency.
National specifications for GMO food and feed to be placed on the market have been proposed by the Egyptian General Organization for Specifications and Quality. The text of the specification (law) in Arabic is available on the National site of the agency.
The training workshop for the Ha'apai Group was held at the Governor's office with the participants from the Relevance Ministries on the 9 - 10th of December, 2011. The objective of this workshop is to build their capacity and public awareness.
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) from Trieste, Italiy in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Nature Protection Directorate will organize a workshop in Croatia: "Field Trials and Post-Release and Post-Market Monitoring of GMOs". This workshop will be held from 5 to 7 December in the Hotel Palace in Zagreb and is being organized with the complete financial support from the ICGEB. Twenty foreign participants and forty participants from Croatia are expected to attend the workshop.
Some topics on the Agenda that will be covered during this three-day workshop include the following:
- Legislative Context of the EU in regards to GMO Field Trials (Part B of the Directive)
- GMO Field Trials in Germany from 1990 to 2011
- Inspections of GMO Field Trials in Germany
- Environmental Risk Assessment - The Environment and Nature Protection Perspective
- GMO Field Trials in Belgium
- Specific Issues related to Field Trials of different GM PLant Species (Potatoes, Poplars, Maize, Sugar beet, Oilseed rape, Wheat and Peas)
- German Research Projects commissioned by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation in Support of the European Approval Process
- Interactive Web-Mapping - A Tool for Applicants for the Deliberate Release of GMOs
- An Experience of Mexico in Environmental Risk Analysis for the Release of GMOs into the Environment
- Experience of Mexico in Monitoring Field Trials
- Experience of Brazil in Controls and Inspection of Field Trials with GM Plants
- Experience of Turkey in Field Trials of GMOs
- Legislative Context of the EU in regards to Part C of the Directive
- The role of EFSA in Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) of Applications and Post Market Environmental Monitoring (PMEM)
- Guidance of EFSA on the PMEM
- The Commission Working Group on PMEM (Discussion and Outcome)
- Standardized Methods for PMEM
- Integration of Environmental Surveillance Programmes in PMEM
- Challenges for PMEM (cultivation of multiple-stacked genes; scale of impact-scale of monitoring; site selection)
- Experience of Argentina with Release of GMOs into the Environment
- Case Study "MON810": Post Market Environmental Monitoring (PMEM)
- Brief overview of two publications: Integrated Confinement System for GE Plants (issued by PBS) and The Regulation and Risk Management of Confined Field Trials of Transgenic Plants (issued by Agbios)
Resource persons who will share knowledge and their expertise will be the following experts: Dr. Giuliano Degrassi (ICGEB, Trieste, Italy), Dr. Ulrich Ehlers (Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety, Germany), Dr. Christina Ehlert (European Food Safety Authority(EFSA), Italy), Dr. Katia Pauwels (Scientific Institute of Public Health, Belgium), Dr. Ralf Wilhelm (Julius Kühn-Institut, Institute for Biosafety of GM Plants, Germany), Dr. Birgit Winkel (Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Germany) and Dr. Wiebke Zueghart (Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Germany).
We are pleased to announce that the Secretariat has made the Second National Reports on the Implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety available through the ‘Finding Information’ section of the BCH at http://bch.cbd.int/database/reports/. We invite you to visit this page to gain insight into the progress being made by Parties in the implementation of the Protocol. The new page contains a function that allows for detailed analysis of the reports by (i) one or more countries or geographical regions and/or (ii) by questions/sections of the report. As of 30 November, the Secretariat has received 125 National reports, all from Parties to the Protocol. Parties who have not yet reported are strongly urged to do so. References to the relevant notifications as well as links to the offline and online formats of the report are available at http://bch.cbd.int/protocol/cpb_natreports.shtml.
A series of National Training Workshops are currently being implemented in the Kingdom of Tonga. The objective of these workshops are to help build capacity with regards the Biosafety Clearance House Mechanism. The first in this series was carried out on the main island of Tongatapu from the 16th-18th November 2011. This will be followed by similar initiatives in the island groups of Ha'apai and Vava'u respectively from the 8th-9th and from the 12th-13th November 2011.
The Federal Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Program-Global Environment Facility (GEF) organized a two day training workshop on Biosafety Clearing House (BCH) for key stakeholders and potential users of the BCH including; universities and research institutions, custom officers, phytosanitary regulators and inspectors, media, and civil society group. The workshop was intended to publicize the BCH and ensure that stakeholders are familiar with the modalities in place to enable their contribution to the BCH.. The workshop was the second under the BCH 11 project. The workshop brought together . Twenty three Participant.
The workshop provided participants with a clear understanding of the format of BCH records as well as the procedures for registering and publishing biosafety-related decisions and information retrieval from the BCH. More...
L'atelier s'est tenu au centre Gaston MURAZ de Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso), du 02 au 14 novembre 2011.
Organisateurs : Commission de l'UEMOA / Programme Régional de Biosécurité de l'UEMOA (PRB-UEMOA).
Objectifs :
- former les acteurs nationaux sur la biotechnologie, la biodiversité et la biosécurité,
- former les régulateurs nationaux et régionaux sur les méthodes de détection et de surveillance des OGMs et des produits dérivés importés pour l'alimentation humaine et animale,
- former les acteurs scientifiques sur les méthodologies modernes de détection et de surveillance des OGMs et aux bonnes pratiques de laboratoire.
Une trentaine de participants venus des huits Etats de l'UEMOA et de la Commission de l'UEMOA ont pris part à l'atelier. More...
The BCH ( Biosafety Clearing House) Pilipinas National Workshop was held on November 3-5, 2011 at Computational Science Research Center (CSRC) at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City. There were many government agencies that joined the training such as FDA, DENR, DOST, BPI, PCAARRD, etc. The only academic institution that participated in the said training was Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba. Usec. Fortunato de la Pena, Chairperson of the DOST-Biosafety Committee gave an introduction on the workshop as well as introduced the facilitators, resource persons and participants. He also addressed the importance of acquiring knowledge and utilizing the BCH. Dr. Ruel V. Maningas, BCH Regional Advisor asked the participants on their expectations on the workshop. He also gave the objectives and overview of the BCH II Global Project. Ms. Julieta Fe Estacio, National Focal Point presented and discussed the overview of the National Biosafety Framework, the status of Country Compliance to Cartegena Protocol on Biosafety (CBD) and BCH Pilipinas Project Updates Mr. Edmund Revilla, BCH Regional Advisor facilitated on the use of the Interactive Modules on CPB and BCH.
There were presentations of case studies and hands-on exercises that were conducted that enabled the participants to be engaged in the discussion and open forum. The main focus of these activities were about the components on the BCH Central Portal such as Finding Information, BCH Management Centre, BCH formats, Using BCH to Register Information, Mechanics of National and Reference Data Registration in BCH Central Portal and Registering National and Reference BCH Records. As part of the training, there was a mock interactive session between National Focal Point (NFP) and National Authorized Users (NAUs).
There were 4 workshop sessions: (1) Organizational Procedures for BCH Registartion; (2) Sustainability of National BCH Systems; (3) Engagement of research and Development Instituitions and Eduaction Sectors in National Biosafety and BCH Trainings and; (4) Transfer of the BCH Workshop development know-how to national institutions and trainers. The synthesis of the workshop was facilitated by Dr. Maningas and Ms. Estacio. Usec. de la Pena gave his closing message to the participants.
As one of the BCH stakeholders representing the education sector, Letran Calamba plans to integrate BCH to the curriculum or to co-curricular activities in the Basic Education and tertiary level. For this, the initial step that will be conducted is a seminar workshop in Letran Calamba sometime in December 2011 to give teachers an introduction and better understanding of the Biosafety Clearing House.
GM Eggplant trials suspended in the Philippines More...
reconstitution of Plant Quarantine Board Members More...
The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) Bureau of Plant Industry Plant Quarantine Service (BPI-PQS) upgraded its molecular testing facility for plant pathogen and GMO detection in order to enhance efficiency and effectivity of lab analyses that comply with international standards.
The Philippines' biotech regulation continues to evolve and learn from its experiences since the first approval of GM product in 2002. We need to set-up necessary infrastructure for the testing and detection of GMOs and plant pathogen in order to continuously perform our tasks as the main regulatory agency for biotechnology in the country," said BPI then Assistant Director Clarito Barron during the turn-over ceremony. To date, the Bureau has now approved 51 events for the direct use and importation of several biotech crops such as alfalfa, corn, soybean and potato.
The enhancement of the molecular laboratory of BPI-PQS will further boost the confidence of the general public on the capability of BPI in implementing DA Administrative Order No.8, the policy that governs the importation and release into the environment of plants and plant products derived from the use of modern biotechnology. With increased capability, the molecular laboratory can carry out testing of agricultural products that may contain GMOs not approved by the regulation, and monitor the entry of exotic pests. The facility also opens service opportunities in testing samples sent by neighboring countries for GMO and pathogen detection.
(April 19, 2008) In the Philippines, the variety of grain known as “Golden Rice” has been subject to field trials since the beginning of April. Genetically modified to contain higher quantities of pro-vitamin A, this rice may be available to farmers as early as 2011. Information on the status of its field trials has been provided by Mr Gerard Barry, coordinator of the Golden Rice Network and staff member of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). More...
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