Workshop to Introduce Vietnam's Circular for GM Crop Biosafety Regulation

The Department of Biodiversity Conservation of the Vietnam Environment Administration (VEA) organized a seminar to introduce Circular No.08/2013/TT-BTNMT dated May, 2013 on June 21, 2013 in Hanoi. The Circular came into force on July 1, 2013 and stipulates the order and procedures to grant and revoke the certificate of biological safety for genetically modified crops.

Speaking at the workshop, Mrs. Hoang Thi Thanh Nhan, Deputy Director of the Department of Biodiversity Conservation said that in line with the policy of stimulating biotechnology application, especially in agriculture, the Party and the Government has issued guidelines and policies and many legal documents. These include the Environment Protection Law (2005), Biodiversity Act (2008), Law on Food Safety (2010), Decree 69/2010/ND-CP and Decree 108/2011/ND-CP, which will ensure the application of biotechnology with safety to the environment, biodiversity and human health. She also said that the Department of Biodiversity Conservation will be working closely with ministries and its branches as well as with scientists and experts in related fields, to implement Circular No. 08/2013/TT-BTNMT to ensure biological safety to the environment and biodiversity, while applying GM technology in Vietnam.

The Circular also stipulates the functions and tasks of the Biosafety Council, the appraisal standing body and the expert panels. Participants to the workshop include representatives from different ministries, experts and scientists from research institutes, universities, and companies.

For details of the workshop, contact Hien Le of Agbiotech Viet at hientttm@yahoo.com.