Business Potential for Agricultural Biotechnology - Asian Productivity ...

Business Potential for Agricultural Biotechnology in Singapore
initiative to establish the Framework Agreement on Access to and Fair and Equitable Sharing of
Benefits Arising from the Utilization of Biological and Genetic Resources (“the Agreement”).
Even though it is in compliance with international treaties, the current Singapore IP regime
was further strengthened when Singapore acceded in 2004 to the UPOV convention (for the protection
of new plant varieties) under the requirements of U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement.
Granting the breeder of a new variety the exclusive right to exploit it will encourage investment
in plant breeding and contribute to the development of agriculture, horticulture, and forestry.
Plant breeders who formerly had limited monopoly rights are now accorded better protection to
commercialize new plant varieties derived from biotechnology as well as from traditional breeding
methods. This IP regime will give agri-biotechnological interventions exclusive protection in
Singapore should they be developed and patented there.
Robust Regulatory Framework/Biosafety
As in many countries, biosafety regulation of agri-biotechnology on genetically modified
organisms (GMOs) and released agri-biotech products derived from GMOs is a key concern that
must be strengthened to ensure food and public safety and for the benefit of agri-trade. There is a
need to safeguard public and environmental safety while allowing for the commercial use of
GMOs and GMO-derived products by companies and research institutions in compliance with
international standards (CODEX, FAO, Cartagena Protocol, etc.).
Singapore established the multi-agency national Genetic Modification Advisory Committee
(GMAC) in 1999 to oversee and advise in this matter. The key initiatives of GMAC lie in establishing
biosafety regulations and guidelines for the conduct of GMO research and the commercial
release of GMO-derived products and in facilitating public education and creating awareness
on GM issues. Members of GMAC are drawn from regulatory agencies such as AVA, National
Parks Board (NParks), Ministry of Health (MOH), A*STAR, and the Attorney General Chambers
(AGC); academic and research institutes such as the NUS, Nanyang Technological University
(NTU) and (NIE), TLL, and the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB); and
consumer interest groups such as the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE).
Two guidelines, one covering release of GMOs (Singapore Guidelines on the Release of
Agriculture-Related GMOs, August 1999) and the other covering research on GMOs (Singapore
Biosafety Guidelines for Research on GMOs), have been released. The latter is in its final draft
stages and currently available to the public at GMAC’s website as a working draft (http://
www.gmac.gov.sg).
As an advisory committee, GMAC leverages on the regulatory powers of various national
agencies, including AVA, MOH, and the National Environment Agency (NEA), to oversee safe
movement, transfer, and containment of GMOs relevant, respectively, to food/feed, human
health, and environment. The AVA is the approving authority for the import and release of agriculture-related
GMOs and GM foods in Singapore. Under AVA’s Animals and Birds Act and
Control of Plant Act, importers are required to seek approval from AVA before importing
agriculture-related GMOs. GMAC will evaluate applications to import or release GMOs through
expert panels to ensure that food safety and environmental issues have been assessed and found
to be satisfactory. AVA will take into consideration GMAC’s evaluation before permitting the
import or release of the GMOs.
Thus far, GMAC and AVA have allowed the sale of GM corn, soybean, and canola oil after
reviewing the risk assessments of the specific products and the safety tests conducted by
Monsanto or other companies involved and ensuring that the products meet the safety criteria set
by the Singapore Guidelines on the Release of Agriculture-Related GMOs, guidelines established
to ensure safe movement and use of agriculture-related GMOs and to address issues related
to food safety based on the concept of substantial equivalence, especially in the area of risk
assessment in relation to human health and the environment. In addition, GMAC and AVA take
into account prior approvals by the authorities of the country from which the specific product
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