On 2 April 2004, FAO launched "Developing Country Biotechnology Profiles", a searchable database which aims to provide easy access to key, updated sources of information regarding biotechnology-related policies, regulations and activities of individual developing countries. It is a new feature in FAO-BioDeC and is accessed by clicking the "Country Profiles" button on the left hand menu of the FAO-BioDeC webpage (http://www.fao.org/biotech/inventory_admin/dep/default.asp). The purpose of the database is to compile, organise and render easily accessible information that is currently distributed in a number of places and that may be difficult to find. Information for each country may be provided on the following 11 subjects: biotechnology research policy; research capacity (key institutions; summary of major research programmes); biotechnology regulatory framework (biosafety; food safety; patents; plant variety protection; plant genetic resources; animal genetic resources); biotechnology applications and, finally, publications and links. Entries are in English and users can search on any combination of subject, developing country or region as well as carry out a free text search. Contact [email protected] to provide comments (always welcome!) or to request more information.

09/04/2004