Perspective on OECD activities from a non-member country

1. Perspective on OECD activities from a non-member country Prof. Atanas Atanassov, Agrobioinstitute, BULGARIA workshop: Beyond the Blue Book: Framework for Risk/ Safety Assessment of Transgenic Plants. Jeju Island, Korea, 29 September 2006

2. Content • OECD activities of benefit of non-member countries • OECD activities of benefit of non-member countries – regional aspects • Recommendations for future OECD activities involving non-member countries

3. OECD activities of benefit of non-member countries • Unique identifier for transgenic plants • Assisting the CBD in implementing CPB, BCH • Web-based databases (Biotrack) -database of field trials -product database • Consensus documents -Harmonisation of Regulatory Oversight Task Force -Safety of Novel Foods and Feeds

4. OECD activities of benefit of non-member countries – regional aspects • Participation in the work of the OECD task forces, fora, meetings as observers - OECD global forum on knowledge economy: modern agricultural biotechnology in non-member countries, 18-19 November, 2002

5. OECD activities of benefit of non-member countries – regional aspects • Support and assistance in Black Sea Biotechnology Association (BSBA) activities

6. BSBA- Goals: • To create within the Black Sea region, a network of countries with historically similar agricultural needs, priorities and often practices, science based regulations that not only protect the public health and the regional environment, but also stimulate economic development, international trade, modern agricultural practices, modern food and feed production industry, east/west collaborations and the advancement of regional varieties. • To increase the region’s contribution to and participation in the global debate regarding agricultural biotechnology. • To build a system of mutual acceptance of regulatory and safety data for agricultural products improved through biotechnology. • To build regional human and organizational (including information sharing) capacity to understand and responsibly employ Ag biotechnology.

7. BSBA –activities: • A regional Biotechnology web portal which serves in real time mode as the regional Ag-Biotech clearing house (http://www.bsbanet.org/) • Annual Black Sea Region Biotech Forum- a platform for regulatory, economic development and trade related issues of Ag biotechnology • Consensus documents on environmental risk assessment of GM maize, GM soybean, GM sugar beet based on the research and experience with these crops in the region. • a network of laboratories to work on mutually (and internationally) accepted and available validated detection and monitoring methods/procedures with the view to evolve it into a network of accredited laboratories.

8. Recommendations for future OECD activities involving non-member countries • Biotrack databases – to include data from non member countries; regular update of the information

9. Recommendations for future OECD activities involving non-member countries • Consensus documents- non member countries would highly encourage OCED to continue the work on the species with high socio-economic value for the developing countries and countries with economies in transition • Non member countries, Balkan region in particular to be better represented at the OECD task forces’ meetings

10. Recommendations for future OECD activities involving non-member countries • IPRs and technology transfer in the field of modern biotechnology require deeper attention • Currently the multinational biotech companies are the holders of the IPRs of the most of the transgenes that are commercially introduced • These transgenes are introduced in few varieties or hybrids that are generally not designed to be adapted to different climatic conditions (e.g. Africa, Asia, the Balkans) • A growing concern exists that the new GM varieties will pose a treat to local agrobiodiversity

11. Recommendations for future OECD activities involving non-member countries • IPRs and technology transfer –what can be the solution? • Introducing the genes of the companies to local varieties; equal sharing the IPRs between multinational companies and local research centers/breeders • OECD is in the unique position to play a role of mediator between its member countries (biotech exporters) and non-member countries (biotech importers) in this technology transfer dialogue

12. Recommendations for future OECD activities involving non-member countries • OECD is in the position to initiate activities and play a role in the co-existence debate • co-existence of conventional, organic and GM production systems is both agricultural and economic issue • Co-existence is an issue in many OECD member countries (EU) • Co-existence is a topic of concern for the most of non-member countries

13. Recommendations for future OECD activities involving non-member countries • Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety On the international arena, we would highly encourage OECD to continue its efforts to assist CBD Secretariat with regard of BCH and to find the appropriate mode to play a key role in the WTO – CPB debate • 7th EC FP – international cooperation

14. Thank you for your attention!