The challenge for countries, especially developing countries and countries with economies in transition, is the formulation of national policies and regulatory frameworks to ensure biosafety. The holistic approach to biosafety encompasses scientific, ecological, health, social, economic, cultural and ethical dimensions in the context of the precautionary principle. It also requires a long term perspective in assessing technology and its products.
A comprehensive biosafety policy will need to be accompanied by and integrated with policies in other related fields such as agriculture, science and technology, industrial development, health, biodiversity and environmental protection. An important element would be options for non-gene technology approaches to achieving a stated objective such as increased agricultural productivity, pest and disease management or environmental remediation. For developing countries with limited resources and/or alternative knowledge and practices in farming and health systems, this approach can be both cost-effective and ensures the further strengthening of national capacities and sovereignty over food, nutrition and health. A regulatory framework includes a national law, subsidiary regulations, administrative measures and implementation/enforcement mechanisms. Underlying this is the generation and flow of information and knowledge on biosafety that can be part of the public domain to ensure public participation and ever-deepening understanding and implementation of biosafety.
This section provides some information on the experiences of countries and regions.

EU Path of Deregulation of NGTs Carries Environmental and Health Risks

This study shows that the path of the proposal to deregulate plants made with new genomic techniques n the EU carries health and environmental risks. […]

Game-changer for regulation of genome editing and new tech in South Africa

The South African Minister of Agriculture has made a final decision that the risk assessment framework existing for GMOs will also apply to new genetic engineering techniques. […]

French Food Safety Agency Says Proposal to Deregulate New GMOs Has No Scientific Basis

The French food safety agency has dismissed the European Commission’s claim that GMOs produced by new genomic techniques are equivalent to conventional plants, thereby justifying deregulating them, as having no scientific basis. […]

Experts Categorically Oppose Proposal to Deregulate New GE Plants in the EU

Experts have issued statements categorically opposing the European Commission’s proposal to deregulate plants produced with new genomic techniques (NGTs). […]

Ministers Withhold Support for EU Presidency’s Proposal to Deregulate New GMOs

Europe’s agriculture ministers have challenged the Spanish presidency’s proposal to widely deregulate GMO plants made using new genomic techniques. […]

European Scientists Say Exemption of New GM Plants from Regulation is Unscientific and Unsafe

The proposal to exempt most ‘new’ GM plants from regulation lacks scientific basis and risks citizens’ safety and should be rejected, according to the European Network of Scientists for Social and Environmental Responsibility. […]

Hungary Stands Firm on GM-free Agriculture

Hungary maintains its stand for GMO-free agriculture in the country, against the backdrop of proposed new regulations in the European Union on new genomic techniques. […]

Opinion: The US assault on Mexico’s food sovereignty

The US government has escalated its conflict with Mexico over the latter’s restrictions on GM corn, but the Mexican government shows no sign of backing down, providing ample scientific and other justifications. […]

Mexico-US Deadlock over Mexico’s Restrictions on GM maize

The U.S. has filed a complaint against Mexico’s restriction on the use of GM maize, but Mexico is reserving its right to take precautionary measures it considers important to protect public health and the environment, including the genetic integrity of its native maize. […]

Philippines Supreme Court Issues Writ on Golden Rice and Bt Eggplant

The Supreme Court of the Philippines has issued a Writ of Kalikasan in response to a petition to stop the commercial propagation of the genetically modified crops Golden Rice and Bt Eggplant in the country. […]