HLPDAB: Workshop on Moving Forward on Agricultural Biotechnology through Continuing Efforts on Regulatory Cooperation in APEC

APEC economies continue to work together towards reducing resource costs, increasing efficiencies in regulatory processes, and lowering barriers to innovation and trade. To continue the discussions on furthering regulatory cooperation for the development, use, and trade of products of agricultural biotechnology, the Agriculture & Food Systems Institute implemented a full-day workshop on August 14, 2024 in Trujillo, Peru, prior to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation High Level Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology (APEC HLPDAB) plenary meeting. This event was supported by the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Services (USDA FAS) New Technologies and Production Methods Division.

On July 30-31, 2023 in Seattle, at the Workshop on Reducing Redundancies and Facilitating Efficiencies – Regulatory and Policy Solutions for Oversight of Agricultural Biotechnologies, participants from APEC member economies explored potential mechanisms for alignment for the oversight of agricultural biotechnologies and the feasibility of developing a “Policy Approaches Document.” The outline for this document was presented at the 2023 APEC HLPDAB plenary meeting. To develop a draft of the Policy Approaches Document, AFSI conducted the following consultative meetings in 2024 to gather input from APEC member economies, with the aim of ensuring the document is fit for purpose and represents policy approaches that have real opportunities for practical uptake:

• Session 1: Information Sharing (May 6, 2024)
• Session 2: Aligning Data Requirements, Standardizing Application/Dossier Templates, and Harmonizing Risk Assessment Methodologies (May 29, 2024)
• Session 3: Mutual Recognition of Risk Assessments (June 18, 2024)

The input gathered thus far has been integrated into a draft of the “Policy Approaches Document,” which was presented at this workshop. A companion online portal showcasing case studies of successful approaches to regulatory cooperation was introduced, and a session was dedicated to allowing attendees to browse the website and provide feedback. The workshop also included interactive breakout sessions using a case study approach to facilitate in-depth discussions among APEC member economies on practical and feasible approaches to strengthening regulatory cooperation, which can promote the safe use and adoption of agricultural biotechnologies.