www.czu.cz ; www.raupp.info

A benchmark document on the needs and present status of capacity building in
biosafety of GM crops in Asia by A.Varma for the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) says that participating countries vary greatly in their
capacities related to GMO biosafety, and that most require considerable
efforts to build up capacity for regulating GMOs, January 2005.

The document, according to the FAO, outlines approaches to build capacity
in participating countries in the context of the Cartagena Protocol on
Biosafety. The key areas include:
Human resources (in situ and ex situ training, group training,
national/regional workshops and updating of training manual).

Regulatory mechanisms (development of biosafety guidelines, putting in place
various acts on biosafety, enhancement of inter-country coordination,
establishment of National Biosafety Committee and Institutional Biosafety
Committee, and harmonization of regulations in the region).

Policies and programs (enhance professionalism in implementing agencies,
develop policies for undertaking risk assessment and risk management, raise
institutional awareness, and harmonize biosafety program and technology
transfer).

Financial requirements (provide adequate funding and identify sources of
funds).

Regional collaboration (i.e., capacity building, workshops, training,
strengthening Asia BioNet, collaborative research, harmonization of risk
assessment/management techniques, strengthening of quarantine systems)
Development of time frame for all key areas.

[www.isaaa.org] and www.fao.org

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