A consultative meeting with all stakeholders on Biosafety Regulatory Framework in Pakistan was held under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Climate Change Zahid Hamid along Federal Minister for National Food Security and Resources Sikander Bosan Federal Minister for Climate Change emphasized the strengthening and synchronizing the National Biosafety committee to make it more effective.
Federal Minister was informed that Technical Bio-safety Committee formulated under National Bio-safety Committee has already been revised by including provincial technical experts. The stakeholders discussed to have better coordination. What are effects of Genetically Modified Organism on health of human beings and animals? How to improve current biosafety framework?
It was agreed in the meeting that GMOs is federal a subject due to two reasons. The import export is dealt at federal level and Pakistan is signatory to Cartagena Convention. The implementation of international conventions and agreements are also under federal laws.
Pakistan is party to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) since May 31, 2009. The setup of implementation system in the country was mandatory to regulate Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and their products related activities. National Biosafety Centre was established in Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), Ministry of Environment (defunct) in April, 2006 to meet the obligations of CPB. Pakistan Biosafety Rules, 2005 had been devised under Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997 (PEPA, 1997) and notified by Pak-EPA (Ministry of Environment) to regulate GMOs and their products. National Biosafety Guidelines, 2005 were developed and notified to explain the procedures and protocols to the applicants. National Biosafety Centre (NBC) provides the secretariat support to the Biosafety committees; National Biosafety Committee (NBC; headed by Secretary, Ministry of Climate Change, Technical Advisory Committee (TAC); headed by Director General, Pak-EPA and Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBCs).
The meeting was attended by the representatives of Ministry of Commerce, EPA-AJK, Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Environment Department, Baluchistan, Pakistan agriculture Research Council, Ministry of Law and Justice, EPA-KPK, National Institute of Health, Ministry of National Food Security and Resources, Ministry of Climate Change.
PREVIOUS NEXT
