Focal Point Information

E-mail:

[email protected]

Country:

Pakistan

Organization/agency name (Full name):

National Biosafety Centre, Pakistan Environmental

Contact person name:

Afzaal Ahmad Naseem

Website:

Physical full address:

#311, Main Margalla Road, F-11/3, Islamabad, Pakistan

Phone number:

+92-51-9235320

Fax number:

+92-51-9267625

Country introduction

Summary:

Pakistan is an agricultural country and the agricultural sector directly or indirectly contributes about 45 percent employment and also provides essential inputs for agro-based industry. Major crops, such as wheat, rice, cotton and sugarcane account for 90% of the value added and 31% in the agriculture. Pakistan is party to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB) since May 31, 2009 and regulatory framework includes Pakistan Biosafety Rules 2005 and National Biosafety Guidelines 2005. The implementation system is comprised upon three tires; National Biosafety Committee (NBC), Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBCs) of different firms and institutions to control and regulate the GMOs and their products related activities in their organizations. National Biosafety Centre is acting as the secretariat of NBC and TAC and facilitates the IBCs in their activities. No GM food or feed had been approved yet. But GM materials for food and feed will be approved by NBC on the recommendations of TAC on the recommendations after evaluation of respective IBC. The labeling of GM materials for all the purposes is under discussion for legislation.

Framework

Regulatory framework:

Structure for GM food safety assessment:

Supplemental information:

Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:

The safety assessments of all GM materials including Food and feed in the country are regulated by National Biosafety Committee of Climate Change Division. National Biosafety Centre, Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency, 311, Main Margalla Road, F-11/3, Islamabad, Pakistan is the secretariat of NBC.

Assessment

GM food safety assessment guidelines:

Conduct of GM food safety assessment:

Supplemental information on the implementation:

Stacked events

Regulation of stacked events:

Supplemental information on the stacked events:

The MON531, MON89034, MON810, NK603, Bt11, MIR162, GA21, HX1 and some locally genes are under research & development and testing process for environmental biosafety. Only Eight local cotton varieties containing MON531 were commercialized in the country. The food safety assessment is under way under the supervision and guidance of National Biosafety Committee (NBC). The legislation for food assessment is under process of formulation.

Production and trade

GM food/feed production:

GM food/feed imports:

Supplemental information on the production and trade:

LLP/AP incidents

LLP/AP incidents:

Supplemental information on the LLP/AP incidents:

Labelling requirement

Labelling requirement:

Supplemental information on the Labelling requirement:

Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment

Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA)