Ask an Expert: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

Amanda Galvez. Professor at the National Univerity of Mexico.

Comment and question:
The background document prepared for the Forum states that the OECD Working Group on the Harmonisation of Regulatory Oversight in Biotechnology is considering undertaking a project on the low-level presence of transgenic seeds in bulk shipments of conventional seeds. Could you please provide us with an update as to the status of this project as well as more information on its scope and purpose.

Thanks for the question Amanda. You are right that OECD's Working Group is considering a project on LLP though it is a little early to be crystal clear about the scope. As you know this is not an easy issue with many differing opinions. The Working Group has been considering (and continues to consider) what it might best undertake (if anything) on the topic. What is clear is that any project which it develops will be firmly within the terms of reference of the Working Group. In other words, it will focus on risk/ safety assessment. The next meeting of the Working Group will be in October (2009) when the details will be further clarified. I suspect that the first steps on the project will focus on information exchange amongst delegations.