Biotech Updates

Need for Food Safety Commission for GMs in Indonesia

September 7, 2007

The Research Centre for Bioresources and Biotechnology (RCBB) of Bogor Agricultural University, the Indonesian Centre for Agricultural Biotechnology and Genetic Resources Research Centre and Development (ICABIOGRAD) and the Ministry of Agriculture jointly sponsored a Workshop on the Current Status of Biosafety of Genetic Engineering Products on 28-30 August 2007. In his keynote speech, Dr. Suharsono of the RCBB stressed the importance of biotechnology in Indonesia and urged the government to form a Commission for Genetic Engineering Products Biosafety to oversee food safety recommendations in the country.  

On the other hand, Dr. Dedy Fardiaz, Deputy Chairman for Food Safety and Hazardous Substance Control, National Agency for Drug and Food Control explained that “GM foods should be tested before commercialized based on Government Regulation (GR) No. 69/1999. The label must be put in place according to determined threshold value,” he stressed. GR 21/2005 is a Regulation on Biosafety of Genetically Engineered Products already in place in Indonesia.  

For more information, please contact Dewi Suryani of the Indonesia Biotechnology Information Center at dewisuryani@biotrop.org.