Representatives and biosafety experts from Bangladesh, India, Mongolia, and the Philippines gathered in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from 6–10 July 2026 for a UNEP-GEF multi-country workshop aimed at strengthening cooperation and advancing the implementation of National Biosafety Frameworks (NBFs) in Asia.
Held under the UNEP-GEF Project (GEF ID 10991), “Promoting the Safe Application of Biotechnology through Multi-country Cooperation in the Implementation of National Biosafety Frameworks in Asia,” the event brought together 20 participants from the four countries, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Korea Institute for Promoting Asia Biosafety Cooperation (KIPABiC). The workshop was organized by KIPABiC and co-hosted by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC), Mongolia, with technical support from UNEP and co-financing from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), Republic of Korea.
Under the theme “Strengthening Inter-country Cooperation and Networking for Effective Implementation of National Biosafety Frameworks,” the programme provided a platform to assess progress, share experiences, and identify opportunities for regional collaboration. Participants presented findings from national stocktaking exercises and discussed key aspects of biosafety implementation, including policies and legal frameworks, regulatory processes, risk assessment and risk management (RARM), and the use of the Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH). Common challenges and capacity-building needs were also highlighted, emphasizing opportunities for technical cooperation and knowledge sharing. A field visit to Mongolia’s National Reference Laboratory for Food Safety offered practical insights into laboratory systems and their role in biosafety implementation.
Participants also reviewed progress under Project 10991, including workplans and timelines, and discussed measures to accelerate implementation. The Fourth Multi-country Project Steering Committee (Mc-PSC) Meeting, held on 9 July 2026, provided strategic guidance and agreed on priorities for the next phase. The workshop concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen cooperation, enhance capacities, and promote sustained regional collaboration in biosafety.
