Malaysian Biosafety Act 2007 - NRE

BIOSAFETY NEWSLETTERVOLUME 01 I ISSUE 01 I APRIL 2009Seminar On Biosafety AwarenessRoles and Obligations of Researchers, Research andAcademic Institutions Under The Biosafety Act 200712 June 2008, Crystal Crown Hotel, Petaling JayaThe Ministry of Natural Resources andEnvironment (NRE), the United NationsDevelopment Programme — GlobalEnvironment Facility Project (Capacity BuildingActivities on implementing the CartagenaProtocol on Biosafety) and the Centre forResearch in Biotechnology for Agriculture(CEBAR) jointly organised a half day seminar onBiosafety Awareness – Roles and Obligationsof Researchers, Research and AcademicInstitutions under the Biosafety Act 2007. Thisevent was held at Crystal Crown Hotel, PetalingJaya on 12 June 2008.This initiative is part of the efforts of NRE toraise awareness on the implementation ofthe Act among all levels of society on the keyelements of the Act. This seminar was targetedat all researchers involved in the field of modernbiotechnology especially in the developmentand application of Living Modified Organisms(LMOs). The aim of the seminar was to outlinethe role of all organisations undertaking researchin modern biotechnology once the Biosafety Actis enforced. This seminar also aims to elucidateand give guidance to the researchers on theirobligations and compliances under the Act.A total of 132 researchers from various researchfacilities participated in this seminar. Therewere 62 participants from public universities,19 participants from research institutes, 11participants from government agencies,24 participants from private colleges anduniversities, 4 participants from NGOs and 12participants from private companies.The seminar was officiated by Datuk Fatimah RayaNasron, the then Deputy Secretary General 1 ofNRE. Datuk Fatimah informed the participantsthat NRE took a participatory approach indeveloping the Act, where researchers frompublic universities and research institutionsplayed an active role to ensure that minimalburden put on the researchers will not impedeinnovation in the field of modern biotechnology.The purpose of the regulations under the Act isto ensure that research in modern biotechnologyis done with adequate safety measures. It willcomplement and strengthen existing GoodLaboratory Practices and ensure safe handlingin laboratories and contained areas of research.There were 3 main presenters in this seminar.Mr K Nagulendran from the Conservation andEnvironmental Management Division, NREwho gave a presentation on the Overview ofthe Biosafety Act 2007. The second presenterwas Assoc Prof Dr Norihan Mohd. Saleh fromthe Faculty of Biotechnology & BiomolecularScience, University Putra Malaysia whospoke on the Role of Universities and ResearchOrganisations in Implementation of Biosafety Act2007. The final speaker, Prof Dr Rofina YasminOthman from CEBAR, University of Malayadelivered a presentation on the Obligations ofResearchers under the Malaysian Biosafety Act.After the presentations, a session forquestions and answers was facilitated by ProfDr Norzulaani Khalid, University of Malaya.Participants took the opportunity to seekclarifications on what type of research will beregulated under the Notification process andthe possibility of any exemptions granted underthe Act for Notification. Other issues that werebrought up included the implementation dateof the Biosafety Act 2007, expected timelineto receive approvals, deadlines for setting upInstitutional Biosafety Committees (IBCs) andthe expected quantum of fees.Panel discussion (L to R): Mr Nagulendran, Assoc ProfDr Norihan Mohd Saleh, Prof Norzulaani Khalid, ProfRofina Yasmin Othman.Participants at the seminar.9