Experts discuss rules relating to the presence of living modified organisms in seeds

San Jose, Costa Rica, June 26, 2013 (IICA). National policies on the Low-level Presence (LLP) of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) in seeds, and the impact they have on the seed industry and seed trade, were two topics analyzed at a regional workshop which brought together authorities in the field from Latin America.

At the workshop, organized by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), one of the most serious concerns raised by the participants is the lack of a clear-cut definition of what exactly constitutes an LLP.

According to Alejandra Sarquis, IICA Representative in Chile, “In some countries, it is defined as the unintentional presence of a biotech event approved for certain areas, but not for others; in others, as a biotech event whose approved use has expired; and in others as a biotech event that has not been approved. This range of definitions creates confusion in the seed industry and as to the rules of the game importers and exporters must adhere to.”

One point on which the countries seem to be in agreement is that regulations governing LLP cannot call for zero tolerance, which would be disastrous for the industry.

The workshop was attended by representatives of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), who stated that seeds are at the core of all production systems; that the global seed market generates some US$47 billion annually; and that South America is the region showing the fastest rate of growth in exports.

According to the ASTA, the seed industry has a direct interest in ensuring the existence of regulations on LLP, provided such regulations are consistent.

In this regard, Sarquis stated that it is urgent for the countries to adopt a common vision in developing policies on LLP if they are to set science-based international standards for risk management.

As part of the workshop, representatives of the participating countries shared information on their current policies on LLP in seeds. In Costa Rica, for example, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of the Environment coordinate the evaluation of risks, delegating responsibility to a national technical commission on biosafety.

In Nicaragua, there is also a commission responsible for analyzing the risks of LMOs, while in Honduras no regulations exist. In Brazil, there are no regulations dealing specifically with LLP, with each case being analyzed separately by a biosafety commission.

For more information, contact: 
pedro.rocha@iica.int