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Costa Rica and Peru Working Towards Biotechnology Regulations
August 20, 2009
Three U.S. Grains Council representatives traveled to Costa Rica and Peru last week to meet with biotechnology regulators and discuss the status of biotechnology regulations in those countries. Although both counties are Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, no specific implementing regulations have been developed. The Protocol addresses the transboundary movement of living modified organisms, which includes unprocessed genetically enhanced grains. According to the Council, Costa Rica is an influential country in the Central American region and although it has some experience with biotechnology through its seed industry, it would like to develop its regulatory capacity further. Costa Rica and Peru combined imported more than 1 million metric tons (39.4 million bushels) in the 2008 marketing year, an 83 percent increase from the previous year.
The Costa Rican regulatory ministries are working on drafting biotech regulations, and in Peru the biotech legislation is waiting to be discussed in the Peruvian Congress. “The Council is providing Costa Rican and Peruvian regulators with science-based information to help them develop biotech regulations. These countries are also interested in educating consumers and getting this science-based information out to the public, including students in Costa Rica and farmers in Peru. We want to ensure the Protocol requirements are applied in a way that is practical and would not impede trade,” said Rebecca Fecitt, USGC director of biotechnology programs, who accompanied Gary Schmalshof, USGC Biotechnology Advisory Team leader, and Gordon Wassenaar, USGC Biotechnology Advisory Team member, on the trip.
Source: US Grains Council
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