FAO provides technical assistance and training to its members
countries in the field of biosafety and biotechnology, including
legal and technical advice for the establishment of appropriate
regulatory frameworks in the fields of biosafety and food
safety. It assists countries to have the necessary infrastructures
and expertise and to access to up-to-date scientific information as
it emerges. In this regard, FAO has implemented various projects
aimed at strenghening national capacities in dealing in biosafety
of genetically modified organisms (see:
http://www.fao.org/sd/sdrr/bio_en.asp).
FAO is addressing biosafety issues principally under the two
Priority Areas for Inter-disciplinary Action (PAIAs), namely: 1)
Biotechnology in food and agriculture (
http://www.fao.org/biotech/act.asp);
and 2) Biosecurity for agriculture and food production (
http://www.fao.org/biosecurity/).
In 2004, a working group on biosafety was established as a joint
initiative of the Biosecurity and Biotechnology Priority Areas for
Inter-disciplinary Action (PAIAs) to deal with issues directly
related to biosafety.
Some of the ways in which the Working Group on Biosafety will
assist the parent PAIAs include:
(a) Providing advice on coordinated Organization-wide approaches to
biosafety in FAO's Programme of Work;
(b) Preparing discussion papers, information notes and other
materials on biosafety in food and agriculture, including fisheries
and forestry, for both internal and external users;
(c) Organizing technical or scientific expert meetings on biosafety
in food and agriculture, including fisheries and forestry.
(d) Liaising with peer agencies working in the field of biosafety
to ensure coordination of efforts.
The full terms of reference for the FAO Working Group on Biosafety
can be accessed at:
ftp://ftp.fao.org/es/esn/food/biosafety_tor.pdf
FAO has also developed several instruments that deal with issues
pertaining to biosafety including: 1) The International Plant
Protection Convention (IPPC); 2) A "prior informed consent" system
and the draft Code of Conduct on Biotechnology. 3) A draft Code of
Conduct on Biotechnology, encompassing a biosafety element; and 4)
Several biotechnology networks, including: a) the Plant
Biotechnology Network (REDBIO) and b) the Bioinformatics Network on
Biotechnology and Biodiversity, in cooperation with UNIDO and
UNDP. 5) The Farm-Centred Agricultural Resource Management
programme (FARM), which has a subprogramme on biotechnology and
biodiversity - implemented jointly with UNDP.
National level activities
Development of national biosafety frameworks
Information exchange & data management
Public awareness, education and participation