Biotech Office holds Webinar on Field Trial Data Transportability of GM crops for Scientists and Regulators
By: Paulyne Nathalie M. Ordillo
Event March 28, 2022
The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI)- Biotechnology Office of the Department of Agriculture (DA) conducted a webinar recently on confined field trial data transportability of genetically modified (GM) crops.
The workshop was a continuation of regulatory skills needed per the newly signed DOST-DA-DENR-DOH-DILG Joint Department Circular No. 1, series of 2021 (JDC No. 1, s2021). Participants were scientists and regulators from the agencies and biosafety experts involved in the implementation of JDC No. 1, s2021, that includes the ability to use data sets from test sites outside of the Philippines.
Regulators in many countries accept data from similar environments which can be used in safety evaluations as long as the field trial is well designed. For example, the USA accepts field trial data from Argentina and Chile; while Argentina accepts data from other nations.
Mr. Ariel Bayot, BPI Assistant Director for Regulatory and Chair of the BPI Biotechnology Core Team welcomed the participants and introduced the technical resource from the Program for Biosafety Systems, which is facilitated by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
During the seminar, Mr. Reimond Corona, Project Senior Technical Specialist of the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP) reviewed the JDC No. 1, s2021. This was followed by the lecture of Dr. Subray Hegde, Director of the Biotechnology Risk Analysis Programs of the Biotechnology Regulatory Services of APHIS USDA, shared a regulator’s experience, including field trial data from other countries in safety assessments.
Attendees discussed the concepts and new Circular guidelines in an open forum facilitated by Ms. Paulyne Nathalie Ordillo, Science Research Specialist I of the BPI Biotechnology Office. Dr. George Y. Culaste closed the event that was facilitated by Ms. Viola Katherine Gamboa, Agriculture Technician II and member of the BPI Biotech Secretariat.
Overall, the webinar provided good technical information for the regulators to consider when discussing the possibility of adapting relevant field trial data sets from other countries.
