Bangladesh Finalizes GM Food Safety Guidelines

Bangladesh has finalized the GM Food Safety Guidelines in a two-day Stakeholder meeting on the finalization of Guidelines for the safety assessment of foods derived from genetically engineered plants in Bangladesh.  Mr. CQK Mustaq Ahmed, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and the Chief Guest said that Bangladesh should go for the viable option of Evergreen Revolution through genetic engineering for food and nutritional security in a safe manner. The meeting was jointly organized by Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) and South Asia Biosafety Program (SABP). Dr Robert Potter, Senior Associate, AGBIOS Canada and Dr Vibha Ahuja, General Manager, Biotech Consortium of India Ltd explained about the safety assessment of GM foods, Codex Alimentarius and other related principles followed worldwide.

Around 80 participants from universities, relevant government and non-government organizations and people involved in policy-making were present to contribute to the fine tuning of the document. While chairing the inaugural session, Dr Wais Kabir, Executive Chairman of BARC expressed his optimism on the rapid progress and outcome of Bt Brinjal, late blight resistant potato and Golden Rice in Bangladesh for food and nutrition, that conform to the GM Food Safety Guidelines.

For details of the event and information on biotechnology in Bangladesh, contact  Prof. K. M. Nasiruddin  of Bangladesh Biotechnology Information Center at nasirbiotech@yahoo.com.