The Impact of International Harmonisation on Adoption of Biosafety Regulations

Modern biotechnology will provide important tools for developing countries seeking to gain benefits from their genetic resources in a sustainable way, but concerns about the safety of the technology have been raised. Consequently, a key component of national biotechnology development strategies is the establishment of an effective biosafety regulatory oversight infrastructure. Today, less than 10% of developing countries have adopted biosafety regulations and guidelines. International efforts towards biosafety harmonization include training, information exchange, the creation of technical guideline frameworks, and stimulating open debate in public forums. The results of these efforts can facilitate the processes for creating, adopting and implementing national biosafety regulatory procedures.