International Biosafety Network

By Pittaluga Abogados

Uruguay signed a regional cooperation agreement on biotechnology which establises the International Biosafety Network (ABRE-Bio) with Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. The new platform aims to coordinate and enhance efforts to ensure the safe use of modern biotechnology across South America.

ABRE-Bio represents a significant leap forward in biosafety, designed to facilitate the exchange of scientific information and foster collaboration on risk assessment and regulation concerning genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and products emerging from new breeding techniques (NBTs). The core goal of the memorandum is to streamline biosafety evaluations by creating common procedures that will reduce both costs and time, while also aligning regulatory frameworks with the specific legislative contexts of each participating country.

By fostering a unified approach to biosafety, the initiative not only aims to bolster regional capacities for evaluating risks and regulating biotechnological products but also to spur innovation and sustainable development across crucial sectors such as agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and agro-industry. This collaborative effort between public and private institutions is designed to ensure that the benefits of biotechnology can be harnessed safely and effectively.