Support to the Implementation of the National Biosafety Framework of China

This project proposal addresses the most urgent priorities among those identified in the National Biosafety Framework for China (NBFC), i.e. management, research and capacity building, and ensures that China can meet its obligations under the Cartagena Protocol (China signed the Protocol in August 2000). The objectives of the proposed activity are to: a) formulate relevant laws and regulations, and establish appropriate mechanisms to effectively assess, monitor, control and regulate the environmental release, commercial production and transboundary movement of living modified organisms (LMOs), to ensure that China can meet its obligations under the Cartagena Protocol; b) produce and promulgate technical guidelines and develop techniques to improve national ability in risk assessment and risk management in connection with the storage, transportation, environmental release, use and transboundary movement of LMOs; c) develop further a proper monitoring parameters/indicators and methods to improve the ability to monitor environmental release and commercial production of LMOs; d) develop and set up a biosafety database system and establish a Biosafety Clearing House Mechanism to facilitate information sharing among decision-makers, managers, scientists and the public which will contribute to the Biosafety Clearing House set up through the Cartagena Protocol; and e) organize a series of training courses, workshops and study tours to train decision-makers, customs officials, inspectors, scientists and technicians. These will provide information, knowledge, and understanding of relevant techniques and good practice for biosafety.