High level representatives from around the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Region (APEC) are meeting in Viet Nam to identify and assess policy concerns related to implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
The Viet Nam meeting is seen as a last opportunity for APEC Member Economies to discuss these issues before the third Meeting of the Parties to the protocol in Brazil in March.
Nearly one-half of APEC economies are Protocol Parties, and all APEC economies are active participants in the movement of agricultural products throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Officials from APEC's 21 member economies are meeting in Ha Noi until 27 February for the Fifth High Level Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology and a separate Private Sector Day. Over 100 delegates and expert speakers from APEC economies and relevant international organizations are expected to attend.
The Policy Dialogue was opened by Viet Nam's Minister for Agriculture, Mr Cao Duc Phat, and United States Under Secretary for Agriculture, Dr J.B. Penn.
The Philippines Secretary for Science and Technology, Dr Estrella Alabastro, also presented a paper on the Philippine experience in developing and Implementing National Biosafety Policies.
In his address to the meeting, Dr. Penn said “this year's Policy Dialogue meeting provides an ideal opportunity to identify and evaluate policy and trade concerns that merit consideration as APEC economies decide whether and how to implement the Protocol.
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