BIOTECanada Training in Biosafety

International Development Research Agency
Pan-American Health Organization

The project involved a series of training workshops and seminars in selected Latin American countries. The Seminar on Harmonization of Biosafety Regulations focused on training of Mexican regulatory officials and researchers on the need to harmonize biosafety regulations vis-à-vis the North American Free Trade Agreement. The Workshop on Biosafety in Agricultural and Agri-Food Biotechnology focused on training Argentinian regulatory officials and researchers on risk assessment and information sharing. The Workshop on Introduction to Risk Assessment and Management: Elements for Setting Policies in Environmental Health focused on discussion of guidelines for establishing suitable policies and strategies in the risk assessment and management process.

National level activities
Development of national biosafety frameworks
Human-resources development
Risk assessment

Goals
Harmonization of Biosafety Regulations in the selected countries of Latin America vis-à-vis the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Objectives
To train regulatory officials and researchers on guidelines, policies and strategies for biosafety risk assessment and management.

Other collaborating organizations
Government agencies in Mexico, Chile, Argentina
Canadian government departments
United States government departments