The quest for Harmonisation of Regulatory Oversight for Biotechnology: The organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Experience

In the 1980s, the guidelines, rules and regulations on biosafety in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries were based on the best available scientific knowledge, but were allowed sufficient flexibility to adapt to new knowledge. At present, when products of modern biotechnology are reaching commercialization, additional emphasis has been placed on harmonisation and trade issues. Thus the project on the “Commercialization of Agriculture Products Derived Through Modern Biotechnology” was initiated to make oversight policies that are transparent and efficient in the facilitation of trade of modern biotechnology products. In this paper, the present and future activities of the project are briefly discussed.