Towards a Harmonised Approach to Food Safety Assessment of Genetically Engineered Plants in South Asia – Expert Working Group Report

Abstract

The harmonisation initiative in South Asia was formally undertaken in 2020 by the Agriculture & Food Systems Institute (AFSI), as part of the South Asia Biosafety Program (SABP) and in partnership with Biotech Consortium India Limited (BCIL), by convening an Expert Working Group (EWG). The EWG constituted senior experts and regulators, identified from agencies in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Sri Lanka, that are relevant to safety assessment of foods derived from rDNA plants. This report was systematically drafted by the EWG, with support from SABP. All experts participated in the meetings and the process for drafting the report in their individual capacity. The meetings of the Expert Working Group were supported by funds received under the Emerging Markets Program (Federal Award Identification Number EMP-2020-07) from the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service.