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	View Edit Domain: GreenBio Title: * Body: ISTANBUL, Turkey - A draft law on biosecurity is expected to open the door for genetic agriculture as well as trade and consumption of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.But experts say the long-awaited draft is not in line with European Union standards and it was not discussed enough before being submitted to the Prime Ministry.<br /><br />Genetic agriculture and transgenic products are rapidly becoming widespread, despite the ongoing debate regarding their impact on public health and biodiversity.<br /><br />Genetic agriculture covers 114 million hectares in 23 countries, particularly in the United States, Argentina, India and China, employing some 12 million farmers. The market, which was not expected to reach $25 billion until 2025, has already climbed to $33 billion today.<br /><br />Many countries, including Turkey, signed the International Cartagena Biosecurity Protocol in 2003. According to this protocol, all countries are required to issue relevant laws by the end of 2009. However, there is no arrangement in Turkey on GMO. Products using GMOs and genetic agriculture techniques are forbidden. The Ministry of Agriculture has prepared several drafts for the law. The latest draft re-arranges all activities, such as the formation of a "Biosecutity Council" as well as the production and trade of these products.<br /><br /><strong>Wide collaboration</strong><br /><br />The draft will be issued in the first six months of 2009, said Masum Burak, managing director of the General Directorate of Agricultural Research, or TAGEM. The draft was prepared with collaboration from universities, professional organizations and companies, Burak said.<br /><br />"It is a long-running work. In the previous drafts, we envisaged forming an independent biosecurity board. However, this changed in the latest version of the draft and a council was found more appropriate. This council will be responsible for all arrangements concerning GMO."<br /><br />Other deficiencies to emerge during the implementation would be covered with legislation and communiquÃƒÂ©s, he said, adding that GMO is not a technology to be implemented suddenly. "First, trial productions and researches will take place and these will be determined by legislations and communiquÃƒÂ©s."<br /><br />There are also ongoing preparations for laboratory infrastructure on GMO, Burak said. There are analyses at laboratories in Ankara and Bursa, he said, adding that three more laboratories in Antalya, Yalova and Ankara will focus on GMO soon.<br /><br /><strong>Criticism</strong><br /><br />The text of the draft is insufficient, according to Prof. Selim Ãƒâ€¡etiner from Sabanci University, who last saw it in March. Ãƒâ€¡etiner argued that the draft on biosecurity was not capable of covering Turkey`s needs. "The aforementioned draft only refers to the International Cartagena Biosecurity Protocol. There are partial quotations from the EU legislation," said Ãƒâ€¡etiner, criticizing various aspects of the draft. "The most worrisome aspect of the draft is that a structure independent of the ministry will be formed, and a nonspecialist bureaucratic authority will undertake the right in this area. This situation may prevent research and development on biotechnology in Turkey."<br /><br />The draft may serve to prepare an import-based legislation on GMO in Turkey, said Fatih TasdÃƒÂ¶gen, a member of the Chamber of Agricultural Engineers, or ZMO. "The Ministry should establish an independent research institute to conduct scientific works on genetic agriculture," he said, adding that the current biosecurity draft would not mean much more than creating a more suitable market for international seed companies that are operating in Turkey. <br /><br /><br />© 2005 Dogan Daily News Inc. Captcha: Please Enter Code : * Time Zone: * Select the time zone Vocabularies Newsletter: Domain: Show summary in full view Input format Filtered HTML Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. Full HTML Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. news_filter Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. More information about formatting options			Related Articles Innovation Arrested By The Law Of Unintended Consequences Nigeria's Senate passes biosafety bill Nigeria's Senate passes biosafety bill Syngenta Petitions Court to Protect Growers' Unrestricted Ac... Entities to launch bio-tech, bio-security research project GMO labelling rules unlikely to change soon Legislation has been passed clearing the way for MAF Biosecu... GE weeds spread from containment glasshouse President delays signing GMO seed law Turkey says "not to allow" GMO import below EU standards Top GreenBio Articles

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