Focal Point Information

E-mail:

[email protected]

Country:

Bolivia (Plurinational State of)

Organization/agency name (Full name):

Ministerio de Desarrollo Rural y Tierras

Contact person name:

Marcela Vilela Porcel

Website:

Physical full address:

Av. Camacho No. 1471 Piso 3; zona Central La Paz- Bolivia

Phone number:

591-2- 2111103 int 2

Fax number:

591-2-2113012

Country introduction

Summary:

In Bolivia, the National Competent Authority on biosafety issues is the Ministry of Environment and Water (MMAyA), responsible for complying with and enforcing biosafety regulations, regulating the processes of introduction, research, handling, production, utilization, transportation , storage, conservation, commercialization, use and release of genetically modified organisms, through the establishment of norms and policies for the safety of food.

Framework

Regulatory framework:

My country has a regulatory framework that requires the competent authority to conduct safety assessment of GM food.

Structure for GM food safety assessment:

My country has competent authority, agency, organization, ministry, department, committee, commission or a system/mechanism that is tasked to conduct or review GM food safety assessment.

Supplemental information:

The regulatory system on GMOs in Bolivia is based on Supreme Decree No. 24676 of june 21, 1997, known as Regulation on Biosafety, this is instituted the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Environment (now Ministry of Environment an Water) as Competent Authority on issues of "Biosafety" and within Biosafety regulation Article No. 8 creates the Nacional Biosafety Commmuttee, this committee is made up of gobernment officials and representatives of the University System. The Committee is the body responsible for providing advice and technical support on activities related to biosafety; carrying out the study and the technical evaluation of applications for carrying out activities with GMOs; and issue the corresponding technical report.

The Supreme Decree No. 25729 dated april 7, 2000 establishing the organization and functioning of the National Service of Agricultural Health an Food Safety (SENASAG) created through Act No. 2061 dated 26 march 2000.According to article 7 Decree, among the power of SENASAG is the regulate the import, use and other activities undertaken with GMOs, in coordination with other national agencies related to this matter, however Bolivia does not have a specific mechanism of approval to evaluate the safety of food/feed...

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

Assessment

GM food safety assessment guidelines:

My country follows the relevant Codex Guidelines or national/regional guidelines that are in line with the Codex Guidelines in conducting safety assessment of GM food.

Conduct of GM food safety assessment:

My country does not regularly conduct food safety assessment of GM food, but has conducted at least once in the past.

Supplemental information on the implementation:

Stacked events

Regulation of stacked events:

There is no regulations in my country on stacked events.

Supplemental information on the stacked events:

The country don’t have stacked events.

Production and trade

GM food/feed production:

My country produces GM food or feed for commercial and research purposes.

GM food/feed imports:

My country allows imports GM food or feed upon authorization.

Supplemental information on the production and trade:

LLP/AP incidents

LLP/AP incidents:

My country has not faced any LLP/AP situations in the last 10 years.

Supplemental information on the LLP/AP incidents:

Labelling requirement

Labelling requirement:

My country is in the process of developing regulations/policies on GM food labeling.

Supplemental information on the Labelling requirement:

Legislation is a days to be approved.

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