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Part 2.6. Biological safety in transfer, handling and use of genetically modified organisms At present, biosafety in Russia is understood as "safe receiving, handling and transfer of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their fragments containing recombinant DNA". In a wider sense, the issue of biosafety is looked at as an action to prevent genetic pollution both in the ex-situ conservation of biodiversity (as a result of biotechnology, accidental or directed hybridization) and in the in-situ conservation (as a result of voluntary and involuntary introductions, invasion of alien organisms, spontaneous hybridization, etc.). This approach is in full agreement with the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity and opens good prospects for the harmonization of a developing national mechanism of biosafety. Biotechnological aspects of biosafety. The first steps in the creation of a national biosafety mechanism dates back to mid-1970s. After the Asilomar Conference it became evident that no biotechnological efforts could be carried out without legal regulations and norms in biosafety (safety measures). Currently there are no less than 40 legal acts and subordinate acts that regulate biosafety issues either directly or indirectly. In 1996 the Federal Law On state control over gene engineering activities was adopted. It has become a milestone in the legislative mechanism of control in the filed of biosafety. In 1997 the Russian Federation Government established the Cross-Sectoral Commission on Gene Engineering Issues. Its main objective is to coordinate activities of ministries, state sectoral agencies, state scientific academic and university centers in the implementation of biosafety mechanisms. Basic structural elements of Russian biosafety have not been equally elaborated so far and for the most part they has not been worked out. For example, there are lacking general principles of support to the biosafety system, copyright on created GMO, risk assessment mechanisms and techniques, etc. |
PREFACE
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