Biosecurity Laws and Regulations in Turkey Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Avni Öktem Nanobiotechnology R&D Group, Department of Biological Sciences Middle East Technical University, Ankara TURKEY

As a result of –Increased research & commercial activities in biotechnology –Commencement of membership negotiations with EU on October 3 rd, 2005 Turkey has passed/signed certain biosecurity related legislations

Directive About The Field Studies of Transgenic Culture Plants (1998/05/08) The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (2004/01/24) Directive on Import, Process, Export, Control and Regulation of Genetically Modified Organisms for Human and Animal Consumption (2009/10/26) Biosecurity Law (no /09/26) Directive on Operational Procedures and Principles of Biosecurity Board and Committees (no /08/13) Directive on Genetically Modified Organisms and Their Products (no – 2010/08/13)

biosecurity laws and directives in Turkey are mostly related with Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) –their distributions, uses, imports and exports, … earliest examples of such a directive –the “directive about the field studies of transgenic culture plants” by The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) in 1998 –aimed to prevent the import of GMOs to be used in human consumption without first being tested in a field study in Turkey –all GMOs to be imported were required to have a certification from a country having biosecurity legislation

In 2000, in the absence of a national law on biosecurity –The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety was ratified in the Turkish Parliament in 2003 In 2002, Turkey has started to prepare a “Biosecurity Law” in compliance with The Cartagena Protocol –project money from the United Nations Environment Program – The Global Environment Facility (UNEP-GEF) entitled “Project on the Development of the National Biosafety Framework of Turkey” was started on September 18 th, 2002 and finished on March 18 th In 2005, first circulating draft of “Biosecurity Law” In 2009, finalized by the MARA In 2010, been passed from the parliament

In accordance with the new “Biosecurity Law” Two directives have been published by the MARA – Directive on Operational Procedures and Principles of Biosecurity Board and Committees (no /08/13) – Directive on Genetically Modified Organisms and Their Products (no – 2010/08/13) The Biosecurity Law and two directives –Came into force on September 26 th, 2010 MARA suspended the export of all material containing GMO. “Biosecurity Board” has been established –1 st meeting on September 27 th, 2010 –The Board started a web site called “Information Exchange in Biosecurity” at

Biosecurity Board Total 9 members – selected by related ministries –Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (4 members) MARA – 2 members University – 1 member NGO – 1 member –Ministry of Environment & Forestry Now: Ministry of Forestry & Hydraulic Works (2 members) –Ministry of Health (1 member) –Ministry of Industry and Trade Now: Ministry of Science, Industry & Technology (1 member) –Undersecretary of the Prime Ministry for Foreign Trade Now: Ministry of Economy (1 member)

Biosecurity Board responsibilities Establishes lists of experts and terms of responsibilities For each GMO certification application –Establishes committees –Selects members from the expert pool –Determines committees works Generates “Biosecurity Board Decisions” –Using committees’ feedbacks and analysis reports

Biosecurity Board how it works? Holds meetings on a call basis All written communications, meeting notes, etc. are kept by the Agricultural Research General Directorate (ARGD) At least 7 members need to be present for the Board to start a meeting At least 5 members for a consensus Board’s decisions, directives, legislations, etc. are passed to the Ministry via ARGD

Scientific Committees Members are selected from the expert pools, universities, Scientific and Technological Research Institute of Turkey and/or any expert approved by the Board. 11 members are selected for each GMO application –the committee’s responsibilities is limited for that specific application and its term ends with it Board can also establish committees for –Risk assessment –Socioeconomical assessment At least 9 members need to be present for the Committee to start a meeting At least 6 members for a consensus

Biosecurity Knowledge Exchange Portal

Biosecurity Board decisions (summary) 6 meetings since September 26 th, 2010 Limit value for GMO content in food has been established as 0.9% in accordance with EU regulations (2010/10/26) A , MON 89788, MON have been approved to be used in animal feed (2011/01/03) Application of the Turkish Federation of Food and Beverage Associations about the use of 3 soy bean, 21 maize, 3 canola, 1 sugar and 1 potato GMO events in food has been accepted (2011/01/10) –Committees for risk and socio-economical risk assessments are being established

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