Philippine Regulators Work on Refining Risk Assessment Report on GM Plant and Plant Products

A three-day writeshop on Updating the Risk Assessment Report (RAR) Template for Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Plant and Plant Products was conducted on 19-21 November at B Hotel in Quezon City. Regulators from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and experts from partner institutions are working together on updating the RAR form to align with guidelines and standards on risk assessment set by Codex Alimentarius, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and Agriculture and Food System Institute (AFSI).

In his opening message, Dr. Paul Limson, Director of the DA Biotech Program Office, emphasized the importance of improving risk assessment tools for products of modern biotechnology. "We need to make sure that science is used responsibly, that decisions are fair and science-based, and that our systems remain grounded even as the field continues to evolve. Updating the RAR template directly affects how we keep our food safe, how we protect the environment, and how we build trust in the technologies entering our agriculture", he said.

The update of the RAR is timely considering recent developments in plant breeding innovations and rich implementation experience on science-based regulation and risk assessment of GM plants and products, said Dr. Abraham Manalo, Executive Secretary of the Biotech Coalition of the Philippines. The existing RAR form has been in use for the past 20 years.

Dr. Rhodora Romero-Aldemita, Executive Director of ISAAA Inc., lauded the initiative of the DA BPO in spearheading the activity and its partners. The "excellent exercise allows us to capacitate and systematically improve the biosafety assessment system in expediting and making transparent recommendations", she added.

The refinement allows the review, assessment, and streamlining the current biosafety assessment form. This collaborative undertaking reinforces the country's effort in strengthening the food and environmental safety assessment of modern biotech products.

For more information, contact the DA Biotech Program Office at biotechpiu@yahoo.com.