Report of the Regional Workshop on Strengthening Regional Cooperation and National Capacity Building on Biosafety in Asia

Since the entry into force of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in 2003, concerted efforts have focused on mobilizing international assistance to help developing countries build their institutional capacities in biosafety and meet their obligations under the treaty. The FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, in cooperation with the Government of Thailand, launched “Asian BioNet” – a regional initiative on capacity building in biosafety of genetically modified (GM) crops in Asia. This publication presents the outcome of a workshop held in Bangkok, Thailand from 17 to 20 June 2013 under the auspices of Asian BioNet. The document provides information on the existing status of national policies, guidelines, regulations and administration of biosafety, and the challenges that countries in Asia face in strengthening capacity for expanding the scope of biotechnology research and development.